is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness, deadly like the likes of Ebola and the new coronavirus. But it's not contagious through human to human casual body contact.
WHAT CAUSES LASSA FEVER
Lassa Fever is caused by the consumption of contaminated food by infected rats urine or faeces. Newspapers used in wrapping Suya, Akara, Buns, and Masa for us, are from stores, probably rats may have Walked on or stooled and urinated on them. Newspapers are not washed and can't be washed, so let's
be careful "LASSA FEVER" is real in Nigeria, it has claimed the lives of 41 people so far in a recorded case of 258 people in 19 states, the states with Lassa Fever are Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Delta, River, Bauchi, Adamawa, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Kano, Edo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Borno, Plateau, Kaduna. This is only the static of NCDC imagine how many had died already undetected.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Of LASSA FEVER
1.High fever
2.Sore throat
3.Vomiting
4.Chest pain
5.Back pain
6.General muscle pain
7.Cough
8.Diarrhoea
9.Stomach pain
10.Swollen face, eyes
and neck
11. Bleeding from ears,
Eyes, nose, mouth, body openings
IS LASSA FEVER CONTAGIOUS?
Lassa Fever is not contagious from human to human through casual body contact, but human to human spread is possible but only when one is exposed or come in direct contact with infected person's blood, Saliva through deep tongue kiss, sexual intercourse, body fluids, membranes etc.
HOW TO PREVENT LASSA FEVER
1.Prevent rats from
Houses
2. Don't touch rats
dead or alive with
Bare hands
3. Avoid eating food/fruit eaten by rats E.g Yam, noodles, biscuits, groundnuts, plantain etc.
4.Block all of the holes in your house
5. Wash hands regularly
with soup under
running water.
6.Store foods in
covered containers
7. Do not dry foods
In open places
Or on the floor, where rats can easily gain access.
8. Cook all food properly
before eating
9.Clean your home
and surroundings
regularly.
10. Avoid person-to-person
contact, with someone
who has the disease
11.Dispose of waste
properly in a covered
dustbin
12. Avoid self-medication.
Go to approved
health facilities
13. If you must eat Suya, Akara, Buns, masa or any fries, please request for it to be served on take away pack.
14. There is the treatment for Lassa Fever
Early reporting and treatment save lives
If you noticed any of the above symptoms please go to the nearest health centre immediately or call 0800-97000010 (toll-free)
