Outbreak of Lassa Fever in Nigeria. Please read... Remember we got Ebola warnings before the epidermic and no one heeded

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The latest outbreak of Lassa Fever (an acute viral haemorrhagic illness) 6 weeks ago in Bauchi has now spread to 7 other states - Nasarawa, Taraba, Niger, Kano, Rivers, Edo, and Oyo States with a total number of cases standing at 80 (17 laboratory confirmed & 63suspected cases) and death toll of 40, according to the Federal Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole Folorunsho. He also has given his assurances that everything is being put in place to contain the outbreak of the disease. 

Symptoms/Signs:

World Health Organization (WHO) notes that the incubation period of this disease is between 6 and 21 days.

Initial symptoms appear with fever, general weakness, and malaise. Thereafter a few days, headache, facial swelling, conjunctivitis and/ormucosal bleeding manifest. As the disease progresses, many more symptoms appear, such as, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea (bloody), hepatitis, high or low blood pressure, cough, chest pain, hearing deficit, bleeding from vagina, disorientation, seizures and coma. 

Death is usually within 14 days of onset. Mortality rate is estimated to be 1% but in epidemic periods, it could rise to 50%. However, it is treatable with a drug, Ribavirin and intravenous fluids.

Preventive Measures:

• Control of rodents’ population, keeping them away from homes, food supply as well as household items like plates and pots.
• Maintaining high levels of personal as well as environmental hygiene.
• Reporting of suspected cases early, early diagnosis followed by early treatment
• Suspected cases must be treated in isolated facilities.
• Barrier nursing is imperative with gloves, aprons/coveralls, and goggles.  
• Surveillance, social health education, information and communication, on the part of Government.
• Provision of isolation facilities, medications and manpower also on the part of Government. 

Lagos State Ministry of Health has given out 2 Telephone Numbers to reach it’s Directorate for Disease Control: +2348023169485 and

 +2348037176614

 to report any suspected case in Lagos State.

Source: Informationng.com