WHAT IS LASSA FEVER? By Professor Shima Gyoh

Lassa fever is a deadly viral haemorrhagic disease in the same class as Ebola. The incubation period is the same with Ebola – 6 – 21 days. The majority of infection is mild and passes off as a cold or influenza. The severe form however, causes acute high fever, general weakness, headache, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains, diarrhoea, sometimes constipation, severe inflammation in the nose and throat, effusion of fluid, even bleeding in the lungs, abdomen, blood in the urine, difficulty in breathing, skin rashes. Many patients bleed under the skin, in the lungs, stomach and intestine, and on the brain. They go into shock and many of the failure of their vital organs--- the liver, kidneys, and lungs.

It is carried by rats that live in the field and in our homes. Because rats are considered a delicacy throughout West Africa, our populations have not favoured programmes to eliminate filed rats, but we support elimination of house rats. The trouble is that rats do not recognise such boundaries; the field and house rats frequently exchange visits depending on the availability of food. Rubbish dumps so numerous in our towns and villages provide a wonderful arena for both to meet and socialise over food and drinks!

Preventive measures consist of keeping rats out of our homes, strict hygiene of not leaving any food uncovered and frequent washing of hands. The virus does not survive heat, so once the rat is well cooked or roasted, it is safe to handle and eat. However, the killing and preparation of the animal for cooking poses grave danger to the handlers.

The trouble is that early disease is similar to so many others in our region: severe malaria, typhoid fever, even Ebola, and it is impossible in the early stage to know which it is. There are only two laboratories that can diagnose it: at Irrua and Benin. By the time you know, many have died. Health workers who handle infected patients are in grave danger, and convalescent patients can pass it to their sexual partners even three months after infection.

A vaccine effective in primates has been developed by Geisbert and Steven Jones of the Public Health Agency of Canada, but, as far as I know, has not yet been tried in humans. It is most important that our doctors procure this vaccine for human trials. Lassa fever used to be a dry season disease, but in the last five years it has become perennial. The urgency of this trial cannot be overstressed. Meanwhile, we should get rid of rats in our homes and stop our people from hunting filed rats. We can eat chicken, fish, pork, and our own goats. We should also keep clear of beef as this too is dangerous for providing bullets for those who kill us during our sleep.