LASSA fever is surging again after last year saw the worst outbreak on record, officials warn.
Some 2,629 people in Nigeria are suspected to have suffered the horror illness that causes bleeding from the eyes, ears and mouth this year as of February 18.
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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said 477 cases have been confirmed, with 85 people dying from the disease, which is spread by rats.
Officials said they will launch a national rat-removal programme to curb the deadly virus’ spread.
Minister of State for Environment Iziaq Salako said: “We are targeting a reduction of the outbreak so that it cannot escalate to any other state.
“We are embarking on deratisation and awareness creation at the community level as part of the preventive measures.
“So, basically we are putting measures in place to make sure that there is massive deratisation to reduce the population of the vectors that cause the disease.
“We will focus on communities and states that are prone to the disease annually.”
Lassa fever is an illness caused by the Lassa virus, which is listed on the World Health Organization’s list of notorious pathogens that have epidemic or pandemic potential.
It is known to be endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo and Nigeria, but probably exists in other west African countries as well.
The virus causes headaches, weakness, coughing, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains and a sore throat.
In severe cases, it can lead to bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings, as well as breathing problems, facial swelling, chest pain and shock.
Around one per cent of people who are infected die, although this rises to 15 per cent in people who are admitted to hospital with severe symptoms.
HOW IS IT SPREAD?
It is spread through contact with the urine, faeces, saliva or blood of infected rats, and is particularly prevalent in poorer communities.
The virus can spread from human to human in rare circumstances, especially when healthcare workers come in contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids.
Last year saw the worst outbreak on record in Nigeria, with 9155 suspected cases, 1270 confirmed, and 227 deaths.
This year’s case load appears to be slightly lower, with 577 confirmed cases and 94 deaths confirmed by this time last year, according to the NCDC.
But officials are taking measures to prevent the spread going further, after three staff members at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna tragically died last week.
What are the symptoms of Lassa fever?
The incubation period of Lassa fever ranges from six to 21 days.
The onset of the disease, when it is symptomatic, is usually gradual, starting with fever, general weakness, and malaise.
After a few days, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and abdominal pain may follow.
In severe cases facial swelling, fluid in the lung cavity, bleeding from the eyes, mouth, nose, vagina or gastrointestinal tract and low blood pressure may develop.
Source: The WHO