Lassa virus impact in Nigeria: Over 120 dead in a week
In Nigeria, the Lassa virus claimed the lives of 127 people in the first week of April. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 674 cases of the disease, with a mortality rate of 18.8%. Young adults are at the highest risk.
What do you need to know?
- Lassa fever: In the first week of April, Nigeria reported 674 confirmed cases of this disease, resulting in 127 deaths.
- Risk group: People aged 21 to 30 are the most vulnerable, largely due to low health awareness and unsanitary living conditions.
- Symptoms and progression: The disease manifests with fever, headache, sore throat, weakness, and in severe cases, bleeding from various body openings.
What causes the spread of the virus?
The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) explains that the Lassa virus is transmitted to humans through contact with food or items contaminated by infected rodents. Currently, the mortality rate of this disease in Nigeria is 18.8%. Low health awareness and unsanitary living conditions are contributing to the rapid spread of the virus.
Who is most at risk?
The most affected demographic group is individuals aged 21 to 30. High treatment costs and lack of access to adequate medical care further increase the risk for this group.
What are the symptoms and consequences of the disease?
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness that, in severe cases, can result in unexplained bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings.
Symptoms of Lassa fever include fever, headache, sore throat, general weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, and chest pain.
In social media messages, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention urges adherence to hygiene rules to prevent diseases.
"Keep your environment clean, store food properly in a covered container, and visit the nearest health facility if you noticed any of these symptoms," the statement reads.
