The Lassa Fever Outbreak Spreads in Nigeria, how to prevent it

Dengue fever caused by Lassa virus causes 78 people in Nigeria to lose their lives, in one of the worst outbreaks since 2016.

World Health Organization (WHO)

said the epidemic had reached a record high with 317 cases and 72 people died from lassa fever last week.
"Since the outbreak began to hurt in 2018, there have been 110 deaths," reports the Center for Disease Control in Nigeria (NCDC).
However, of the 110 deaths recorded, 78 deaths have been confirmed positively due to Lassa fever, 8 cases still possible, and 24 other cases of negative status.
Of the 1,121 reported cases of Lassa fever, 353 confirmed positive cases, 8 Lassa fever, 723 negative, and 37 cases were waiting for laboratory results.
Meanwhile, 3,126 cases also received special monitoring.

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LASSA VIRUS WEIGHT SAYERS

The NCDC says Lassa fever has been reported in 18 of 36 states in Nigeria. Meanwhile, there are 16 health workers are also affected by fever lassa in 6 states.
NCDC director Chikwe Ihekweazu said many cases of Lassa fever were not treated for medical treatment because the community considered them as ordinary malaria.
"People who have symptoms of fever should go to a health facility to get a test to determine the cause of the fever," he said.
Nigerian Health Minister Isaac Adewole said the government would soon send a vaccine to ward off the virus.
"We are doing everything possible to overcome the outbreak of fever lassa on all fronts," he said.
Lassa belongs to the Marburg and Ebola families, two deadly viruses that cause infection with fever, vomiting, and in the worst case can cause bleeding.

ORIGIN OF LASSA VIRUS MASSAGES

Lassa taken from the city of origin of the virus was first discovered in 1969, namely in the town of Lassa, northern Nigeria.
More than 100 people have been killed by 2016 due to the disease in 14 states.
The Lassa virus spreads through food or household equipment contaminated with urine or mouse droppings.
In addition, the spread may also occur through direct contact with body fluids of people infected with the lassa virus.

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SYMPTOMS AND PREVENTION OF LASSA VIRUS PREVENTION

some of the most common early symptoms of an infected patient.
Fever symptoms appear
Malaise or discomfort or discomfort
Common weakness
After the initial symptoms appear above, after a few days later will appear other symptoms such as:
Dizziness or headache
Muscle pain
Pain in the chest
Pain or discomfort in the throat
Nausea to vomiting
Cough
Diarrhea
Discomfort in the abdomen
The above symptoms may persist until the case is severe or severe. For example with the emergence of symptoms such as:
Swelling of the face
The lung cavity is filled with liquid
The appearance of bleeding from various parts of the body, ranging from the digestive tract, nose, mouth, pubic area, and so on
Hypotension or low blood pressure
The content of protein in urine or urine (Proteinuria)
While at a more serious stage or the final stage of Lassa's disease may appear other more severe symptoms, for example with the emergence of:
Seizures
Shock
Tremor
Disorientation even to coma
Loss of hearing or deafness, which can occur in about 25% of cases that appear pafa period of healing. This healing period occurs after 1 to 3 months
Gait disturbances and hair loss may also occur during the recovery period
These are some of the symptoms of Lassa fever from mild symptoms to severe and serious symptoms that need to be known.

PREVENTION

The way that can be done is:
Prevent rats from entering the house, especially in endemic areas.
Maintain food hygiene by storing groceries well.
Cooking food well is to maintain the hygiene of food before cooking.
Throw away the garbage away from the homes of the inhabitants in order not to be a mouse place to live.
Keeping a cat can help keep the rats away from home.
Prevents rats from approaching food.
Wash hands with soap.
Maintain daily hygiene.
And others
Prevention needs to be done well so as not to happen the spread of Lassa dengue fever in humans.
Infection Control
Not only treatment and prevention that needs to be done. But also infection control. Family members whose family has dengue fever Lassa must be careful not to have direct contact with blood, feces, urine, and other fluids from the patient. The goal is to avoid contracting existing infections. Similarly, medical personnel who deal with patients with Lassa disease. One way is to use a protector.
In addition, treatment in patients with Lassa disease needs to be done in a special room of isolation action. The treatment requires protective clothing, gloves, masks, and other sterile equipment to avoid being contaminated with the patient.
Such are some explanations of Lassa's fever that need to be known. Although Indonesia is not among the endemic countries of dengue fever Lassa, but prevention still needs to be done given the mouse is a dirty animal that can spread various viruses and bacteria that cause certain diseases. Hopefully useful for you.