Healthy Campus, Safe Learning: Preventing Lassa Fever Outbreak on Campus

Marvellous Olajide

Do you know that the global rat population is estimated to be about four rats for every human on Earth? According to a publication on Science Direct titled “Rats: Genetics and Cytogenetics,” rats are the only species to have occupied more land than humans, and they have spread to six continents.

Rats are versatile in many ways, including their adaptability and their role in the ecosystem. Rats have a number of adaptations that help them survive in different environments. This includes their sense of smell that helps them to sniff out any source of food and their excellent climbing skills. Rats also have a keen sense of hearing that helps them to identify and flee from predators. Rats are also generalist feeders and can change their diet depending on what’s available. In extreme cases of hunger, rats feed on one another to survive. Rats also do not have a breeding season; they breed all year round. All these factors contribute to the mass population of rats in the environment. These pests also carry and spread different diseases, including bubonic plague, food poisoning, and Lassa fever.

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever that’s endemic in West Africa and is most prevalent during the dry season, which runs from December to April. The dry season’s warmer temperature allows rodents to survive longer and increases the likelihood of spreading the disease to humans. Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease. This means it is spread by animals to humans, and the primary animal that transmits the disease is the multimammate rat: Infected rats, also known as Mastomys natalensis, excrete the virus in their urine and droppings throughout their lives. Humans can become infected by coming into direct contact with the urine or faeces of an infected rat or by ingesting or inhaling contaminated food or drink. The symptoms of Lassa fever include fever, headache, weakness, bleeding, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.

It is no news that there is a rat infestation in almost every home—to narrow it down, every hall of residence in the University and even in the Agbowo hall of residence. The war against rats is not only present in our universities or continent; it is a global war. Rats are a major factor in the spread of Lassa fever, and since rats are found virtually everywhere, no one is excluded or immune to contracting this disease.

Now that we know rats are an essential part of the ecosystem and are also disease carriers and spreaders, how then do we protect ourselves from contracting these diseases, especially Lassa fever, which is prevalent in dry weather? Well, the main way to prevent Lassa fever, since we have little or no control over rat population, their breeding season, how they spread, and where they go, is by personal hygiene. This includes storing food in rodent-proof, thick, airtight containers to prevent rats from going in or eating through the containers. We should also keep garbage far away from the home or places of habitation. Garbage should be far away from places like the home, office, hostels, etc., to prevent rats from creeping into these places while they scavenge for food.

In addition, we must wash our hands regularly and block those holes around the door or windows where rats can squeeze in to prevent rats from creeping in. Finally, avoid contact with infected people. Avoid contact with people that are showing signs and symptoms of Lassa fever so as not to contract the disease.

In conclusion, the overall case-fatality rate of Lassa fever is 1%, but it can be higher for patients who do not seek treatment early. Early treatment with rehydration and symptomatic care can improve the rate of survival.