Dangerous Animals: Authorities Warn Against Contact
- Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic illness, continues to pose a important public health challenge in Nigeria and several other West African countries.
- In 2019,Nigeria experienced a especially severe Lassa fever outbreak,resulting in 190 deaths nationwide.
- Lassa fever is endemic in multiple African nations, including Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
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Lassa Fever Outbreak: A Persistent Threat in Nigeria and West africa
Table of Contents
Overview
Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic illness, continues to pose a important public health challenge in Nigeria and several other West African countries. As of recent reports, the outbreak has resulted in at least 162 confirmed deaths. While the total number of suspected and confirmed cases in Nigeria was lower in the reporting period compared to the same period in the previous year, health authorities maintain that the risk of sustained transmission remains high.
Recent Outbreaks and Emergency Declarations
In 2019,Nigeria experienced a especially severe Lassa fever outbreak,resulting in 190 deaths nationwide. This prompted the Nigerian government to declare a national public health emergency on January 23, 2019, to mobilize resources and coordinate a response. Reuters reported on the emergency declaration and the government’s efforts to contain the spread.
Lassa fever is endemic in multiple African nations, including Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The virus was first discovered in 1969 in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, after the death of a missionary nurse infected with the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) provides detailed information on the history and epidemiology of Lassa fever.
Transmission and Symptoms
Lassa fever is transmitted to humans through contact with the urine or feces of Mastomys natalensis, a type of rodent commonly found in West Africa.Humans can become infected through direct contact with these rodents, or through contact with objects or surfaces contaminated by thier excrement. Person-to-person transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings, through contact with infected bodily fluids.
Symptoms of Lassa fever typically appear 1-3 weeks after exposure and can include fever, fatigue, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, and bleeding from gums, nose, or other orifices.Severe cases can lead to shock,neurological problems (including hearing loss),and death.The mortality rate is estimated to be around 1%, but can be significantly higher in hospitalized patients. The World Health organization (WHO) details the clinical presentation of Lassa fever.
Prevention and Control
Public health authorities emphasize the importance of preventing contact with rodents and their excrement. Key preventative