About Forty people have died across the
country from the outbreak of Lassa fever within the last six weeks. Also about
397
cases have been reported and all patients are to be treated free in several hospitals.
The minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, stated yesterday that six of the dead
were health workers (two doctors and four nurses) and that cases have
been reported in 12 states Edo, Nasarawa, Plateau, Ebonyi, Taraba, Yobe,
Ondo, Rivers, Gombe, Anambra, Delta and Lagos.
Out of the 397 cases reported, only 87
cases have been positively confirmed by medical officials. The minister said adequate
quantities of Ribavirin injections and tablets, the specific antiviral
drug for Lassa fever, have been released to the affected states. The minster also added that no travel restriction
will be imposed on the affected areas but hotlines have been provided
for health workers for expert advice. The numbers are: 08037154575,
08023214998, 08037879701 and 08023047101.*important*
Facts about Lassa Fever;
Lassa fever is a viral disease that
attacks the liver, nervous system, spleen and kidney, causing them to
bleed, hence the haemorrhagic fever. The Symptoms of Lassa fever include fever,
retrosternal pain (pain behind the chest wall), sore throat, back pain,
cough, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, facial
swelling, proteinuria (protein in the urine), and mucosal bleeding,
bleeding from the mouth, nose, vagina or gastrointestinal tract and low
blood pressure.
The virus lives in rats and infects
humans when they come in contact with these rats’ urine and faeces. According to health experts, they warn that Lassa
fever can also be contracted through body fluids like blood and excrements of
infected persons.
My people please this awareness is for us to avoid rats and keep them away from our stored food and drinking water. The people that are at risk are those living in rural areas or in crowded and unsanitary environment where rats breed.
Now you know please act fast. Thanks!
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