Firstly, I'd like to state how annoying it is to me that the rats in Nigeria had to go and resume picking up the lassa fever virus - "mtsheeew!!!", moving ahead 'abeg'!...
Lassa fever is a haemorrhagic fever caused by a virus of the arenaviridae family - same family to which the ebola virus belongs. It is a zoonotic disease, transmitted to man by infected house rats via their excretions/secretions (urine, feaces, carcass fluids) - that is when these secretions come in contact with broken/open skin of man. It can also be transmitted from infected man to uninfected man where there is contact with infected body fluid and aerosols. Its incubation period (the period within which the virus mulitiplies to reach a viral load which can overcome man's state of well being, possibly without any noticeable symptom) is 7-21 days. Since it presents with no symptoms in some individuals, it is difficult to diagnose early and may result in death as early treatment with the drug is essential for recovery of patient. Some individuals may present with heamorrhagic symptoms though (bleeding from the eyes, nose, ears etc). So having all these facts on our hands, it is only wise that we adopt safety precaution to keep us safe in the light of the recent outbreaks. Avoid contact between food and household rats (keep raw food sacs tied and cooked food plates/pots tightly covered, avoid food drying in the open). If your area is house rat infested, use disposable gloves and face masks if you have to handle carcasses of house rats. Finally, report cases promptly to increase chances of survival of patient with treatment. Stay safe! Ebysweekly wishes you a very happy new year!
Lassa fever is a haemorrhagic fever caused by a virus of the arenaviridae family - same family to which the ebola virus belongs. It is a zoonotic disease, transmitted to man by infected house rats via their excretions/secretions (urine, feaces, carcass fluids) - that is when these secretions come in contact with broken/open skin of man. It can also be transmitted from infected man to uninfected man where there is contact with infected body fluid and aerosols. Its incubation period (the period within which the virus mulitiplies to reach a viral load which can overcome man's state of well being, possibly without any noticeable symptom) is 7-21 days. Since it presents with no symptoms in some individuals, it is difficult to diagnose early and may result in death as early treatment with the drug is essential for recovery of patient. Some individuals may present with heamorrhagic symptoms though (bleeding from the eyes, nose, ears etc). So having all these facts on our hands, it is only wise that we adopt safety precaution to keep us safe in the light of the recent outbreaks. Avoid contact between food and household rats (keep raw food sacs tied and cooked food plates/pots tightly covered, avoid food drying in the open). If your area is house rat infested, use disposable gloves and face masks if you have to handle carcasses of house rats. Finally, report cases promptly to increase chances of survival of patient with treatment. Stay safe! Ebysweekly wishes you a very happy new year!
Happy New year Ebyy!!
ReplyDeleteRemember those rats I told you terrorize my house abi? I have declared a state of emergency on them. This lassa fever is not a joke joke somethin oh..
Hahaha better goan buy rat gum board..that way u can burn the whole stuff without coming in direct contact with fluids from the pest.
DeleteCans holding canned food/drinks should be washed thoroughly before opening.
ReplyDeleteCos an infected rat might have peed on it where it was parked.
Nice info dear.
Happy new year.
Nice input! Thanks converyor.
DeleteAlso, this Lassa virus stuff will just put a stop to the usage of lab-rats for research purposes. This will inadvertently bring 'bad-market' to rat keepers. And on the student/researchers part.....it'll limit the viable researchable topics to those that uses man as the 'lab-animal (lol)'.
ReplyDelete