image source: bbc.co.uk
With the wide spread of the deadly disease Lassa Fever and death toll rising by the day, it has become increasingly important to know everything there is about it and how to protect yourself from contracting the Virus. What is Lassa Fever? Here are all the facts:
- Lassa Fever is viral disease that occurs mostly in West African and is acquired from infected rats.
- Lassa Fever is named after a village in Borno state in Nigeria where the disease was first discovered in 1970
- Research has shown that it results in 300,000 to 500,000 cases annually and causes about 5,000 deaths each year.
- Lassa Fever has been reported in 10 states in Nigeria; Lagos and Abuja inclusive.
- The virus is contained in the excreta and stool of rats. Humans can contract the disease if the wastes of the rats contaminate exposed food.
- The disease can also be spread among humans through body fluids of infected persons.
- According to WHO, Lassa Fever has an incubation period of 6 to 21 days after which fever, general weakness, and malaise might occur. After a few days, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and abdominal pain may follow.
- Death usually occurs within 14 days of onset in severe cases. The disease is worse in pregnant women and nursing mothers
- There is currently no scientific evidence supporting airborne spread between humans.
- To prevent Lassa Fever, Keep your environment clean and rat free; Cover your food always, dispose of food that might have been exposed for too long, avoid eating rodents or rat-like meals, isolate Infected persons and wear protective clothing when in contact with infected persons. Also eradicate pests in your environment with rodents and pest control. You can purchase from a wide variance available on Konga.com. Click here to buy now.
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