Lassa Fever

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GS-III
S&T
Health

Lassa Fever

According to a recently released study, the spread of Lassa fever to the central and eastern regions of the continent over the next 50 years would be aided by climate change.

About Lassa fever:

Parts of West Africa are endemic to this zoonotic illness.
Causes: The Lassa virus, a member of the Arenaviridae family, is to blame.
The majority of the tropical and subtropical nations in Africa have multimammate rats, which are responsible for the disease's transmission through their urine and droppings.
Anything they come into contact with can become contaminated by them.
Human-to-human contact with tissue, blood, bodily fluids, secretions, or excretions can transfer the Lassa virus.
This includes breastfeeding, kissing, snoring, and sexual activity. In hospitals, infected equipment spreads the illness.
Hospitalized patients typically have a high death rate, which occasionally reaches 80%.
There is no vaccination that has been authorised to prevent the illness at this time.
Although it is not a recognised medical treatment, the antiviral medication Ribavirin is frequently used to treat Lassa fever.
Supportive care, such as hydration and oxygenation, as well as the management of particular disease-related problems, are additional operations. Research and development are now being done on preventative vaccinations.

Source: Down To Earth

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