RE-EMERGENCE OF LASSA FEVER IN NIGERIA; AMELIORATION, PREVENTION AND SUSTAINABILITY APPROACH TO HEALTH
N. D. IJERE
Department of Biotechnology, School of Science, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
U. O. MBAH *
Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
G. D. IJERE
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The terror surrounding Lassa fever is based on the virulence of the virus, belonging to the arenavirus species. Lassa fever is an acute febrile re-emergent disease in Nigeria, which is transmitted by the multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis). The recent epidemic has drastically increased the morbidity and mortality rate in the country, likely to give rise to low social, economic and environmental sustainability to health, if left unchecked. The signs and symptoms of Lassa virus infection are well documented. This paper reviewed the aetiology, epidemiology, morphology, mode of transmission and treatment of Lassa fever. It also reviewed from various studies, effective steps that can be used for the containment of the epidemic to avert future outbreak. Furthermore, emphasis is laid on the development of skills and capacity building towards health sustainability such as community participation in proper waste disposal, implementing equality in policy making, food safety and hygiene as well as public enlightenment measures, as good health is pre- requisite for sustainable development and by implication, an antidote for total eradication of Lassa fever in Nigeria.
Keywords: Lassa fever, re-emergent, Nigeria, community participation, public enlightenment, sustainable development