#AIR-CLINIC WRITING CONTEST 13: THE LASSA FEVER STORY
Lassa fever is an acute and often viral infection found in the tropics,occurring mainly in West Africa. The illness was initially discovered in 1969 when two nurses died in Nigeria,the virus was then named after the town where it first occured.
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- CAUSES OF LASSA FEVER
Lassa fever is caused by a RNA virus that is animal borne. The main host of the virus is a rodent known as the multimamatte rat. People can get affected by eating this rat,or by eating food contaminated by the rat,it can also be spread through person-to-person contact( when a person comes in contact with an infected person).
- SYMPTOMS OF LASSA FEVER
The first symptoms usually occur 1-3 weeks after the person gets infected with the virus,these symptoms are:
Hemorrhaging
High fever
Seizures
Diarrhea
sore throat
Conjunctivitis
Abdominal pain
Facial swelling
Back pain
Vomiting
General weakness.
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PREVENTION OF LASSA FEVER
Avoid contact with the host
Put food in rodent proof containers
Keep the home clean always to prevent rodents from entering the house
Create awareness
Facts about Lassa Fever
Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and Guinea are most affected by the lassa fever
Lassa fever causes about 5000 death per year
Rodents spread the disease through their urine and faeces
About 20 percentage of lassa fever hospitalizations end in death
Research is presently being made to make a vaccine for lassa fever.
The antiviral drug ribavirin is used for treatment of lassa fever.
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