EPIDEMIOLOGY

Lassa Fever is an Acute Febrile disease caused by the Lassa virus. Lassa Fever occurs more often in the dry season, rather than in the rainy season. The multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis) is the reservoir host of Lassa fever.

PREVALENCE

Incubation Period:  Is about 10 days but can range from 6-21 days.  

Cases have been reported in some states in Nigeria in January 2016 which includes Bauchi, Kano, Nassarawa, Niger, Rivers, Taraba, Edo and Oyo. “The total number of suspected cases so far reported is 91 with 35 deaths. Case fatality rate varies from as low as 1%-25% to as high as 50%.

TRANSMISSION

1.     Exposure to excreta of infected multimammate rat via direct exposure (to the excreta) of the rat.

2.     Human to human spread by direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, or other body fluids of an infected person.

3.     Person-to-person transmission occurs in both community and health care settings, through contaminated medical equipment, such as re-used needles.

4.     Sexual transmission of Lassa virus has been reported.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

1.     Mild onset over days: - Fever, malaise, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, prostration

2.     Gastrointestinal symptoms common: - Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain

3.     Cough, dyspnea, chest pain may be seen

4.     Central nervous system in late stages: - Agitation, confusion, tremor to coma and convulsions

5.     Hemorrhage: - Gastrointestinal, conjunctival injection/sub-conjunctival hemorrhage

6.     “Classic” presentation: - fever, neck/facial swelling, bleeding (under the skin)

7.     Deafness is a common sequel, up to 1/3 cases

PREVENTION OF LASSA FEVER

1.         Promote good personal and environmental hygiene by:

·         Regular Hand Washing and disinfection when necessary.

·         Avoiding contact with rats

·         Keeping the house and environment clean and disposing garbage far from the home

·         Covering all foods and water properly

·         Cooking all foods thoroughly

·         Storing foodstuffs in rodent proof containers

·         Blocking all rat hideouts and fumigation against rats

·         Discarding any food suspected to have been eaten by rat

•         Avoiding contact with blood and body fluids while caring for sick persons

•         Storing grains and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers.

2.         In case of any suspected case of Lassa Fever, report to the Medical Centre or call any of the following   lines; 012802417, 012802427, 012802431; or Ext.1774, 1778

3.         Any suspected case outside the University Campus should be taken to Mainland Hospital, Yaba.

4.        Lagos State Ministry of Health should also be notified by calling these GSM numbers: 08022234273, 08037170614 and 08023169485; you can also call the Federal Ministry of Health using the following numbers: 08093810105, 08163215251, 08031571667 and 08135050005.

5.         NOTE: ALL ITEMS THAT HAVE HAD POSSIBLE CONTACT WITH A CASE OF LASSA FEVER MUST BE THOROUGHLY DISINFECTED BEFORE REPEATED USE.

MESSAGE FROM UNILAG MEDICAL CENTRE