LASSA FEVER EPIDEMICS/SAFETY METHODS
MODE OF TRANSMISSION:
1.By contact with feces/urine of the mouse
2. Grains mixed with mouse feces
3. Aerosol of these feces
4. Contact with infected and symptomatic persons blood, sweat, urine, semen,saliva or feces.
SIGN AND SYMPTOMS
- Note: Incubation Period: 6-21days
- FEVER: high grade T:38.5-40^C, not responding to conventional antimalarial and antibiotics
- GIT: bloody vomitus, bloody diarrhea, abd pain, difficulty in swallowing(Dysphagia).
- CVS: hypo and hypertension,tachycardia
- RS: bloody cough,pharyngitis(sorethroat)
- Nervous system: Meningitis, seizure
- Others: conjuctivitis-red eyes,redish skin rash,bleeding under skin,headache
- 80% are asymptomatic but the 20% that are symptomatic is always fatal
- Mortality rate:10-15%,coud be 50% during epidermics
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
HIGH INDEX OF SUSPICION
- Hand gloving
- Regular Hand wash After each patient
- Face mask
- Avoid recapping needles
- Avoid eating in places where you attend to patients
- Clean blood splash, feces or any body fluid with chlorhexidine (JIK)solution
- Avoid rodents at home
- Keep all food items in a sealed container
- Avoid indiscriminate refuse dumping
- Use a air-tight dustbin to avoid rodents
