What is Lassa Fever: Incubation Period, Contagious, Countries affected by Lassa Fever

WHAT IS LASSA FEVER?

Fever Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus.

Lassa fever is a viral disease that’s spread by rats. It mainly affects people in parts of West Africa, where there are about 300,000 cases of Lassa fever and about 5,000 deaths from it each year.

The disease gets its name from the Nigerian town of Lassa, where it was discovered in 1969 after two missionary nurses died.

LASSA FEVER CONTAGIOUS

According to scientific reports, Lassa Fever is not contagious unlike Ebola virus and others.

Further researches have confirmed that, the Lassa fever is not human-to-human contagious neither is it deadly.

INCUBATION PERIOD OF LASSA FEVER

According to USAID reports, the incubation period of Lassa fever ranges from 2 to 21 days.

The Lassa Fever is transmitted to humans through direct or indirect content with items (food or household) contaminated with infected rodent urine or faeces.

WHO DISCOVERED LASSA FEVER

Lassa Fever was discovered by the Yale epidemiologist, Dr. Jordi Casals-Ariet in the year 1969.

Dr. Jordi Casals-Ariet nearly died of the virus which was then described as a mystery illness while he was investigating the virus in the laboratory.

According to reports, Dr. Jordi Casals-Ariet was studying the blood samples of three United States of America missionary nurses (Health Workers) who had become seriously ill while visiting northern Nigeria.

COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY LASSA FEVER

The following countries are affected by Lassa fever: Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.

Scientist and researches have and cautioned the public to be on the alert because, the Lassa Fever probably exists in other West African countries.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh