Lassa fever: Don’t allow your pet to eat rat

Lassa fever was first discovered in 1969 after two nurses died of a strange illness in the town of Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria. The condition is characterised by an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by a
microorganism called "Lassa virus".

The virus is shed in the urine and feaces of Mastomys natalensis (A rat that causes Lassa fever). A 'Lassa fever causing rat' can easily be identified because they have a total of 24 'nipples' instead of 12 (normal number of nipples in rats).

The key to controlling this virus that causes 5,000 deaths annually is by elimination of rats and proper sanitisation of the environment. The incubation period (Time it takes for the disease to develop) is about 21 days.

In 80 per cent of cases, Lassa fever is asymptomatic (A carrier of the disease fails to show the noticeable symptoms with which the disease is usually associated). Nonspecific symptoms include fever, facial swelling, and muscle fatigue, as well as conjunctivitis and mucosal bleeding. Early symptom can be similar to malaria ...READMORE