ABSTRACT
The study focused on Causes, effects and prevention of Lassa fever.
One significant challenge in West Africa is differentiating between etiologies of febrile illness with similar initial clinical presentations, including malaria, influenza, dengue, yellow fever, and Lassa fever, with limited laboratory facility and reagent availabilities. Empirical treatment for presumed malaria or bacterial infection is often trialed, and Lassa fever is only suspected when a patient fails to improve with antimalarial and antibiotic therapy. This diagnostic delay leads to delayed patient isolation, an increased potential for transmission to family members and health care workers, and delayed initiation of ribavirin therapy, thereby decreasing its beneficial effect.
On the methodology, questionnaire was used to gather the data used. As a result of the inability of the researcher to effectively study the whole population strength, a representative number was chosen as the sample size population. 100 respondents was used as the sample size. Data was collected from primary and secondary sources. Primary data was obtained through questionnaire and personal interviews with the respondents. Tables and simple percentage was used as technique of analyzing the research questions.
As the world becomes increasingly connected, viral diseases, such as Lassa fever, once endemic to a region can be easily transmitted to other parts of the world, thus increasing the likelihood of a global pandemic. To reduce the probabilities of such events playing out, deliberate and concerted efforts must be applied towards both understanding Lassa fever and limiting infection rates. Both the public and private health facilities should consistently implement standard infection prevention and control interventions when caring for febrile patients to prevent nosocomial infections.
Primary transmission of the Lassa virus from its host to humans can be prevented by avoiding contact with Mastomys rodents, especially in the geographic regions where outbreaks occur. Putting food away in rodent-proof containers and keeping the home clean help to discourage rodents from entering homes.
