EXCLUSIVE: One Confirmed Dead From Lassa Fever In Lagos

Lassa Fever has killed one person in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.

Gatekeepers News reports that the deceased was a 40-year-old Chinese National.

Although the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is yet to publicly announce this Gatekeepers News can confirm that the Chinese man died on Monday.

Lassa fever (LF) is an acute viral illness and a viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) which was first reported in the Lassa community in Borno State, Northeastern, Nigeria.

Since its recognition in many parts of West Africa, including Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Mali, and the Mano River an estimated 300,000-500,000 cases and 5,000 related deaths have been reported.

In 2018, NCDC reported the largest ever number of cases in Nigeria, with over 600 confirmed cases and over 170 deaths.

The Lassa Fever is transmitted to man through the following:

1. Direct contact with urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rodents.

2. Ingesting food and drinks contaminated with urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.

3. Contact with objects, household items, or surfaces contaminated with urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.

4. Person-to-person transmission can also occur through contact with blood, urine, faeces, vomitus, and other body fluids of an infected person, particularly in an environment where infection prevention and control practices are not optimal.

The symptoms of Lassa Fever are fever, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and chest and abdominal pain.