Lassa Fever

In Nigeria, the death toll from the Lassa fever outbreak has reached 138 since the beginning of this year. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said 717 confirmed cases have been recorded so far. With this, the case fatality rate has risen to 19.2 per cent, the NCDC said.

About Lassa Fever:

Cause:

• Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family.
• Transmitted to humans via exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.

Symptoms:

• Fever, weakness, muscle pain, and in severe cases, bleeding (viral haemorrhagic features).

Treatment & Prevention:

• Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential.
• Supportive care (rehydration, symptomatic treatment) improves survival rates.
• Rodent control and hygiene are key to prevention.

Global Perspective:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Lassa fever as an acute viral haemorrhagic illness with epidemic potential, mainly affecting West Africa.