tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post7731972816385503907..comments2023-06-13T04:45:22.434-04:00Comments on Infection Landscapes: Lassa Hemorrhagic FeverMichael Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038031388622939797noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-19701773623253302062016-03-18T11:58:12.561-04:002016-03-18T11:58:12.561-04:00I wonder to what extent asymptomatic persons can i...I wonder to what extent asymptomatic persons can infect others. What is the latency period for Lassa Fever in asymptomatic and symptomatic people? Also, can asymptomatic persons spread the disease? Lastly, can Lassa Fever lie dormant until a later point in life when it is triggered into full pathogenesis?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16027370189089578596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-38972356738725948722016-01-25T17:11:47.746-05:002016-01-25T17:11:47.746-05:00Hello Khalid, you pose some interesting but yet al...Hello Khalid, you pose some interesting but yet alarming statistics on the number of cases/deaths due to Lassa fever in Nigeria. As a Nigerian-born immigrant, it breaks my heart to admit that the sanitary system in Nigeria is poorly organized and managed. Such flawed system makes it harder to protect food and wastage from rodent infestation. You made reference to the lassa fever in 2012 and unsurprisingly, there is another Lassa outbreak in Nigeria this year. According to the US & World Report News, doctors have identified 81 suspected cases since mid-November and 35 people have been killed by the virus. And again, rapid response teams have been deployed to distribute ribavirin, an antiviral drug for Lassa, to high-risk communities. Hopefully, Nigeria comes up with an effective strategy to assuage the presence of rodents in habitual spaces. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16157810367833073275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-2145331773673444022015-11-06T14:49:26.097-05:002015-11-06T14:49:26.097-05:00Hi Khalid, thanks so much for posting that piece o...Hi Khalid, thanks so much for posting that piece of information! It's very unfortunate that Lassa fever still has such a large impact in the endemic areas. It's also interesting that the landscape of the environment and the human-environment interactions play an important role in the transmission of the disease. If we could control the population of the rats, or the interaction between the rats and human food storage, then we can probably make a very large impact on Lassa fever transmission.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00094818324874815633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-55838478941994912502015-09-25T16:44:52.656-04:002015-09-25T16:44:52.656-04:00Hi Khalid! Hope all is well. It’s very interesting...Hi Khalid! Hope all is well. It’s very interesting to know that as a result of the significant number of deaths from Lassa fever in 2012, Nigeria created a response team. It would be interesting to know what intervention and prevention methods were implemented as a result. This disease is the first I’ve come across which is transmitted to humans from contacts with food or household items contaminated with rodent waste. Since it appears that these African rats are accustomed to enter the homes of some residents, what assistance is the government providing to prevent infestation? I know that dependent upon the surrounding environment sometimes having rodents in the home is inevitable (even with proper home maintenance and good structure). Given the occurrence of this disease in different parts of Africa, are homes monitored/evaluated in high-risk areas?<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14532091147791908279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-60474500076584584412015-07-14T15:40:51.209-04:002015-07-14T15:40:51.209-04:00In 2012 Lassa fever Killed about 40 Nigerian and s...In 2012 Lassa fever Killed about 40 Nigerian and spread across the country and average of 380 were infected and the Nigerian government had to create a Lassa fever rapid response team, in fact two nurses died during the same outbreaks.<br />One of the dangerous ways of transmission is when the Mastomys rats live inside peoples home and leave their execration in the food storage, while the disease is some what controlled in the west the mortality rate is almost 50%Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16420001543069750611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-27605639168347464292015-06-19T11:05:56.648-04:002015-06-19T11:05:56.648-04:00Early stages of infection with the Lassa virus can...Early stages of infection with the Lassa virus can result in a wide range of symptoms causing misdiagnoses with influenza, malaria and other febrile illnesses. The only drug, Ribavirin, that's used to treat infection is only useful up to six days after disease onset. Some of the infected, feel better after 7 days (also contributing to misdiagnosis), however others infected progress to show severe symptoms of the disease when its much too late for treatment.Cadiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03109427584671422053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-56224900731974088032015-06-17T13:24:29.212-04:002015-06-17T13:24:29.212-04:00What I find alarming about Lassa fever is the fact...What I find alarming about Lassa fever is the fact that it can be transmitted in a variety of environmental landscapes from dry lands, tropical or moist areas, and even urban settings. This means that creating a plan for protection against the reservoir would have to be tailored to every specific area that they are found, thus meaning more funding for research on how to properly prevent or limit contact between these rodents and humans in a number of settings. Since the early signs are asymptomatic, I am curious if there are any treatments specific to Lassa fever that would prevent someone who is at greater risk for the infection, such as an elderly person, from reaching the intense stages of the infection? Or are the symptoms usually recognized as Lassa fever not until it progresses until the later stages?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01059519769784241932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-33865841796019936522014-11-18T12:17:22.683-05:002014-11-18T12:17:22.683-05:00Majority ineffective are asymptomatic, often the c...Majority ineffective are asymptomatic, often the closest clinic or hospital is miles away by then it may be too late. Could there be an under reporting in the death rate and maybe the rate may be more or roughly same in comparison to other hemorrhagic fevers? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09151898896031061829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-20352538372959326072014-07-20T19:47:25.094-04:002014-07-20T19:47:25.094-04:00I was wondering why is there limited data, Is it d...I was wondering why is there limited data, Is it due to the areas in which lassa fever striking having limited resources? Also, if most people are asymptomatic, how do people know to get help? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14899563856396652137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-73078729424790466162014-07-20T19:45:43.573-04:002014-07-20T19:45:43.573-04:00This was a very interesting disease! The high rate...This was a very interesting disease! The high rate of asymptomatic persons is unnerving, as well as the severity of disease. The incubation period for those who do present symptoms is also a good amount of time. It was a relief to see death rate is very low in comparison to other diseases.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14899563856396652137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-20563158379976620732013-07-28T18:14:52.064-04:002013-07-28T18:14:52.064-04:00Lassa fever is really a dangerous disease. Thanks ...Lassa fever is really a dangerous disease. Thanks @Michael for describing the facts so clearly. (y)Natural pest controlhttp://getridofitrightnow.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-19305984877453879862013-01-16T12:43:12.076-05:002013-01-16T12:43:12.076-05:00Hi Michael. Was really impressed with your summary...Hi Michael. Was really impressed with your summary of Lassa fever, particularly the prevention and control section. I think it's important to keep in mind that the epidemiology of Lassa fever is very much unknown and much of what is reported on rodent-to-rodent and rodent-to-human transmission, incidence, mortality and virus distribution is really based on limited to no empirical data. This is likely the case with many diseases, but I just wanted to throw that out there.Linahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11006131264391172251noreply@blogger.com