NOVEL CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. READ MORE

WHO CARES ABOUT LASSA FEVER?

What do I care about some disease called Lassa fever or any disease for that matter? Questions such as theses run through the minds of people especially those who think they may have at worse, the occasional irritating rat in their homes or surroundings. Interestingly though, a recent experience taught that before it becomes evident that you have a rodent residing in your abode; there may be two or more hints well before any disease manifestation. Another point worth mentioning is the means of spread of the Lassa fever disease, some of which are started below: (i) Person-to-person infection i.e through contact with blood, urine, throat secretion or semen of an infected person. (ii) Touching of floors, beddings and household materials contaminated with infected persons’ or rats urine, faeces, saliva or blood. (iii) Eating food or drinking water contaminated with rat urine, faeces, saliva or blood. Research has found that some symptoms of the disease include: high fever, sore throat, back ache, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach-ache, restlessness, swelling of the face, bleeding through body openings (nose, ears, eyes, mouth e.t.c). Ways of prevention: (i) Clearing surrounding bushes around our houses and keeping around our houses and keeping our living environment clean. (ii) Seeking accurate Information about Lassa fever from certified sources like the Hospital’s Committee on infection prevention and control, written literature by scholars on the subject and credible on-line sites. (iii) Disposing refuse into covered dustbins and discarding of all foods which has been partly eaten (raw or cooked) by rats or other animals. (iv) Hand washing with soap at all times, whenever needed. (v) Maintaining universal precaution for all patients irrespective of whether they show the classical symptoms of Lassa fever or not. Furthermore, proactive steps have been taken in establishing the infectious Disesase ward where patients with Lassa fever are admitted and managed accordingly. The ward which began operation on 1st January 2017 is said to have admitted 15 patients so far while 3 casualties have sadly been recorder. Also the staff members of the ward have been notable for their diligence and dedication in the discharge of their duties thus far and they are further encourages to continue in this light.