While the new coronavirus epidemic storms the world, Nigerian authorities are facing an outbreak of Lassa fever, with more than 41 deaths and 200 infections reported in January 2020. To respond to the increasing number of Lassa fever cases, the Nigerian government has activated a national emergency operation center.
Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever, belonging to the same family as the Ebola and Marburg viruses.
Up to now, the disease has only occurred in West African countries and it got its name from the town of Lassa, Nigeria, where it was first identified in 1969.
Rodent faeces or urine. The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa.
Lassa fever can also be transmitted human to human via body fluids and excretions such as blood, urine, saliva, sperm, vomit, faeces.
The virus has an incubation period of 6 to 21 days.
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