Lassa Fever: Plateau State - one killed

Plateau State government has confirmed that Lassa fever has killed one.

Lassa fever has been noticed in five local governments; Jos North, Mangu, Langtang South, Pankshin and Shendam.

NOTE:
- The host of the virus is rat and it sheds it through its urine and faeces.

- Human beings can become infected by getting exposed to the urine and faeces of the carrier animal.

- Person to person transmission occurs in crowded communities. The disease spreads fast in crowded environments, especially under poor sanitary conditions.

- Health officers can be at risk if they don’t use barrier nursing and infection control practices.”

- Lassa fever can be difficult to distinguish from other viral haemorrhagic fevers, such as the Ebola virus.

- The symptoms are usually gradual, starting from fever to general body weakness and malaise. After a few days headache, sore throat, chest pain, muscle pain, nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cough follow.

- When it becomes severe, facial swelling, bleeding through mouth, nose, ear, anus and genitals occur.

#PreventLassaFever