Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of 2-21 days duration that occurs in West Africa. Though first described in the 1950s, the virus causing Lassa disease was not identified until 1969. The virus is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the virus family Arenaviridae. About 80% of people who become infected with Lassa virus have no symptoms. 1 in 5 infections result in severe disease, where the virus affects several organs such as the liver, spleen and kidneys.
Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease, meaning that humans become infected from contact with infected animals. The animal reservoir, or host, of Lassa virus is a rodent of the genus Mastomys, commonly known as the “multimammate rat.” Mastomys rats infected with Lassa virus do not become ill, but they can shed the virus in their urine and faeces.
The virus is becoming rampant and eminent among all ages and work of life in lokoja, several death have been recorded in January 2018 alone including a medical officer in FMC Lokoja. There is however no known vaccine, proper hygiene has proven to be the most affordable way of preventing this dangerous virus.
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