Lassa fever is a disease whose mortality rate knows no bound at the moment and this has been attributed to poor education on this Deadly disease entity. Preventing is key to putting down this tide. So note the prevention tips below.

Important facts about Lassa fever

Lassa Fever is a viral hemorrrhagic fever (VHF) meaning it ultimately lead to a deadly uncontrollable bleeding.
In Nigeria, it is the most common of all the VHFs. Others include Dengue fever, Ebola etc.
Major outbreaks have been recorded in the past in Nigeria with major loss of lives of Nigerians.
Death occur within days to weeks.
It is caused by contact with the carrier; Mastomys Natalensis
Mastomys Natalensis is a species of Multimamate rats found in Nigeria. Resides primarily in bushes but can invade homes during season like harmattan associated with bush-burning practices.
Contact with this rat’s blood, saliva, urine or eating this rat cause the infection.
Also like Ebola, contact with infected person’s blood, urine, saliva, sweats or even semen or vagina fluid through sex can cause this infection.
Symptoms include Sore throat, weakness, fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, inability to pass urine, bleeding from body orifice like mouth, nose, ears, anus, vagina and ultimately death.
It can be prevented by avoid contacts with rats, covering food stuffs, minimize bush burning practices and avoid persons suspected to be infected.
Persons suspected to have this infection should be rushed to the hospital because with early presentation; it is CURABLE!!
Some centers in Nigeria like LUTH in Lagos, UCH in Ibadan, ISTH in Irrua , Edo state amongst others are well equipped to tackle this deadly disease.
The drug used to treat this disease is Ribavirin
Despite the control during outbreaks, so many lives has been lost.

BUT LIKE THE SAYING GOES ‘PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE’. SO STAY SAFE.
Source:http://www.hillscope.com