17 Feb 2022 Lassa fever
Today Current Affairs
- Recently, three people suffering from Lassa fever died in Britain. These cases have been linked to travel to West African countries.
Lassa fever- Today Current Affairs
- The virus that causes Lassa fever is found in West Africa and was first discovered in 1969 in Lassa, Nigeria.
- This fever is transmitted by rats and is found mainly in countries in West Africa, including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria, where it (Lassa fever) is endemic.
- Matomys mice have the ability to spread the deadly Lassa virus.
Spreading: The Hindu Analysis
- A person can become infected when he comes in contact with food or household items contaminated with urine or feces of an infected rat (zoonotic disease).
- It can sometimes be spread from person to person through contact with infected bodily fluids or mucous membranes such as eyes, nose or mouth.
- Person-to-person transmission is high in the healthcare landscape.
Symptoms: The Hindu Analysis
- Its common symptoms include mild fever, fatigue, weakness and headache.
- Severe symptoms include bleeding, difficulty breathing, vomiting, swelling of the face and pain in the chest, back and abdomen.
- The patient may die within two weeks of the onset of symptoms, usually as a result of multi-organ failure.
Treatment: The Hindu Analysis
- The antiviral drug ‘Ribavirin’ appears to be an effective treatment for Lassa fever, but should be given immediately in case of illness.
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