According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Lassa fever-causing virus is widespread in West Africa and was first isolated in Lassa, Nigeria, in 1969. After two nurses died in Nigeria, this sickness was discovered.
Where did it Start?
On February 11, one of the three people in the UK who had been diagnosed with Lassa fever died. Travel to west African countries connected to the above incidents. The Lassa virus takes its name from a Nigerian town where the first cases were detected. The death rate linked with this condition is rather low, at roughly 1%. However, certain people, such as pregnant women in their third trimester, have a greater fatality rate.
Experts on Lassa Fever
Around 80% of cases are asymptomatic, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and hence go undiagnosed. Some patients may need to be admitted to the hospital and develop serious multi-system disease as a result of their treatment. It’s possible that 15% of hospitalised patients will die.
Spread of Infection
If a person comes into contact with household goods contaminated with the urine or faeces of an infected rat, they can get ill. It can also be spread through mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, and mouth if a person comes into touch with a sick person’s infected bodily fluids or mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually emerge between 1-3 weeks of exposure. Slight fever, weariness, weakness, and headache are mild symptoms; more serious symptoms include :
Bleeding
difficulty breathing,
vomiting,
facial swelling,
chest pain
back pain
Death Issue of Lassa Fever
Death can happen as early as two in weeks after the onset of symptoms, mainly due to multi-organ failure.
Deafness is the most prevalent consequence connected with feverNearly a third of people infected experience hearing loss in varying degrees.
Hearing loss can be permanent in many of these circumstances.
Deafness can occur in both mild and severe fever
Precautions to avoid Lassa Fever
Avoiding contact with rats is the best approach to avoid infection. This includes avoiding contact with rats not only in locations where the disease is endemic, but also maintaining hygiene in other areas to keep rats out of the house, storing food in rat-proof containers, and setting up rat traps.
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