How does a person get Lassa fever?

Transmission of Lassa virus to humans occurs most commonly through ingestion or inhalation. Mastomys rodents shed the virus in urine and droppings and direct contact with these materials, through touching soiled objects, eating contaminated food, or exposure to open cuts or sores, can lead to infection.

Is Lassa fever curable?

Ribavirin, an antiviral drug, has been used with success in Lassa fever patients. It has been shown to be most effective when given early in the course of the illness.

How can I protect myself from Lassa fever?

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.

Who is most at risk for Lassa fever?

Individuals at greatest risk of Lassa virus infection are those who live in or visit endemic regions, including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria and have exposure to the multimammate rat. Risk of exposure may also exist in other west African countries where Mastomys rodents exist.

What is the first symptom of Lassa fever?

The incubation period of Lassa fever ranges from 2–21 days. The onset, when it is symptomatic, is usually gradual, starting with fever, general weakness and malaise. After a few days, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and abdominal pain may follow.

How long does Lassa fever virus survive outside the body?

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: The virus is stable as an aerosol, particularly at low relative humidity (30 % RH ). The biological half-live at both 24°C and 32°C ranges from 10.1 to 54.6 minutes 20.

How long does it take to recover from Lassa fever?

Lassa fever is an illness caused by Lassa virus, a single-stranded RNA hemorrhagic fever virus from the family Arenaviridae. It is an acute febrile viral illness lasting one to four weeks, and it occurs in West Africa and some areas beyond.

Is it all rat that has Lassa fever?

Lassa fever is a viral infection carried by the multimammate rat Mastomys natalensis (M. natalensis). This is one of the most common rodents in equatorial Africa, found across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Lassa fever mainly occurs in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria.

Is there vaccine for Lassa fever?

Currently, there is no licensed vaccine for Lassa fever, although numerous candidates are in the development pipeline.

Does rat bite cause Lassa fever?

Can Lassa fever pass from human to human?

Lassa virus may also be spread between humans through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, or other bodily secretions of a person infected with Lassa fever. There is no epidemiological evidence supporting airborne spread between humans.

How long can Lassa virus survive outside the body?

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: The virus is stable as an aerosol, particularly at low relative humidity (30 % RH). The biological half-live at both 24°C and 32°C ranges from 10.1 to 54.6 minutes(20).

Is Lassa fever still in Nigeria?

Lassa fever is known to be endemic in West African countries, primarily in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria, but may exist in other countries in the same region.

What happens if a rat touches you?

The main concern with rat bites is that you will develop a specific type of bacterial infection known as rat-bite fever (RBF). Humans can contract this illness if an infected rat bites or scratches them. Petting or handling an infected animal can transmit the bacteria, as well.

Can Lassa fever survive heat?

A virologist and co-founder of the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) Dr Alash’le G. Abimiku has said sustained heat can help kill the Lassa fever virus.

Why do rats bite humans in their sleep?

Many researchers have postulated the rats simply will not bite a person while they are sleeping. This is a myth to them, and they propose that the stories that have been told are ones that are purely fictional with no real factual basis to them at all.

How long does Lassa virus survive outside the body?

Do rats eat dead bodies?

Predators as rodents also devour tissues of the dead body most dramatically as insects [13, 48]. Rodents (mouse, rat, hamster, etc.) have a total of 16 teeth, including 2 incisors and 6 molar teeth both in the upper and lower jaws [74] (Figure 2).

Will rats come near me while I sleep?

So is there a chance that a mouse will crawl on you while sleeping? If mice have already taken refuge in the bedroom, there’s a chance that they will crawl on you in bed. They typically do this when the fastest way to get from one place to the other is across the bed.

What are the symptoms of Lassa fever?

The symptoms of Lassa fever vary widely, and diagnosis can be difficult. Clinically, the disease can resemble other viral hemorrhagic fevers, including the Ebola virus, malaria, and typhoid. The only definitive tests for Lassa fever are laboratory-based, and the handling of specimens can be hazardous.

How is Lassa fever diagnosed and treated?

Typically Lassa fever is diagnosed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assays (ELISA)… Ribavirin has been used with success in Lassa fever patients… Lassa fever is prevented by avoiding contact with Mastomys rodents…

How often do Lassa fever outbreaks occur in Nigeria?

Lassa fever outbreaks occur every year. The number of people infected peaks between December and June. A large outbreak was reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control that began early in 2018. What is Lassa fever? Lassa fever is an illness caused by Lassa virus, a single-stranded RNA hemorrhagic fever virus from the family Arenaviridae.

What is the prevalence of Lassa fever in Sierra Leone?

Surveillance for Lassa fever is not standardized; therefore, these estimates are crude. In some areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia, it is known that 10-16% of people admitted to hospitals annually have Lassa fever, demonstrating the serious impact the disease has on the region. People are infected through contact with an infected rodent…