A Household Doctor, Dr Francis Sanwo, has harassed the necessity for improved family andcommunity hygiene to stop Lassa Fever.
This, he mentioned, would discourage rodents recognized as main carriers of the Lassa Fever virus from coming into houses.
Sanwo, the Medical Director of Our Woman of Apostles Catholic Hospital, Oluyoro, Ibadan, mentioned this in an interview withthe Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ibadan.
The household doctor, who additionally emphasised efficient measures, together with storing grains and different foodstuff in rodent-proof containers,additionally harassed the necessity to dispose rubbish removed from houses and sustaining clear households.
He added that “members of the family ought to all the time watch out to keep away from contact with blood and physique fluids whereas caring for sick individuals inhealthcare settings.
“Hospital workers ought to all the time apply customary an infection prevention and management precautions when caring for sufferers, no matter their presumed analysis.
“Healthcare staff caring for sufferers with suspected or confirmed Lassa fever ought to apply further an infection management measures to stop contactwith the affected person’s blood and physique fluids and contaminated surfaces or supplies.
“When in shut contact (inside 1 metre) of sufferers with Lassa fever, healthcare staff ought to put on face safety (a face defend or a medical masks and goggles),a clear, non-sterile long-sleeved robe, and gloves (sterile gloves for some procedures).”
The medical skilled additionally emphasised that samples taken from people and animals for investigation of Lassa virus an infection ought to be dealt with bytrained workers and processed in suitably outfitted laboratories beneath most organic containment situations.
He defined that Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic sickness with incubation interval of ‘2-21’ days length that happens in West Africa.
In accordance with him, Lassa virus is transmitted to people through contact with meals or home goods contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.
Sanwo famous that person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission also can happen, significantly in hospitals missing enough infectionprevention and management measures.
“The onset of the illness, when it’s symptomatic, is normally gradual, beginning with fever, common weak spot, and malaise.
“After just a few days, headache, sore throat, muscle ache, chest ache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and stomach ache might comply with.
“In extreme instances facial swelling, fluid within the lung cavity, bleeding from the mouth, nostril, vagina or gastrointestinal tract and low bloodpressure might develop.
“Protein could also be famous within the urine. Shock, seizures, tremor, disorientation, and coma could also be seen within the later levels.
“Demise normally happens inside 14 days of onset in deadly instances. The illness is very extreme late in being pregnant, with maternaldeath and/or fetal loss occurring in additional than 80 per cent of instances in the course of the third trimester,” he mentioned.
He additional defined that Lassa fever happens in all age teams andboth sexes, stating that individuals at higher threat are these residing in rural areas the place Mastomys are normally discovered.
“Definitive analysis requires testing that’s obtainable solely in reference laboratories.
“Laboratory specimens could also be hazardous and have to be dealt with with excessive care; Lassa virus infections can solely be identified definitively within the laboratory .
“The antiviral drug ribavirin appears to be an efficient remedy for Lassa fever if given early in the middle of scientific sickness.
“There is no such thing as a proof to assist the position of ribavirin as post-exposure prophylactic remedy for Lassa fever.
“There may be at present no vaccine that protects towards Lassa fever and the general case-fatality price is 1 per cent.
“Amongst sufferers who’re hospitalised with extreme scientific presentation of Lassa fever, case-fatality is estimated at round 15 per cent,” he mentioned.
Sanwo, nonetheless, remarked that early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic remedy may enhance survival.
