LASSA FEVER: OFFICE OF THE SUB DEAN OF STUDENT AFFAIRS ISSUE ALERT

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS FROM THE SUB DEAN OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

LASSA FEVER EPIDEMIC!!! 

This is to inform all our students that there is currently an epidemic of LASSA FEVER in the country. The disease has currently infected 86 persons with about 40 deaths in ten states of the Federation (Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Oyo). LASSA FEVER is an acute febrile illness, with bleeding and death in severe cases, caused by the LASSA FEVER virus with an incubation period of 6-12days. About 80% of human infectiond are asymptomatic, the remaining cases have severe multi-system disease, where the virus affects several organ in the body, such as the liver, spleen & kidneys. 

The onset of the disease is usually gradual, starting with fever, General weakness and malaise followed by headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cough,  and bleeding from the mouth, nose,  vagina, or gastrointestinal tract, & low blood pressure. 

The reservoir or host of the LASSA virus is the "MULTIMAMMATE RAT" called "MASTOMYS NATALENSIS" which has many breasts and lives in the Bush and peri residential areas. The virus is shed in the urine and droppings of the rats hence can be transmitted with these materials or through cut or sores. Person to person transmission also occurs most especially when a person comes in contact with the virus in the blood, tissue, secretions or excrement of an infected individual. 

In response to this outbreak, and to ensure a proactive measure,  all students are advised to:

1. Ensure regular sanitation within and around their respective lodges to reduce rat population. 

2.  Cleaners in the university hostel have been directed to redouble their effort to ensure that the hostels are kept clean. 

3. Any suspected case shoul immediately be reported to NAUTH Nnewi,  Infection Control Unit. 

4. Avoid contact with blood and body fluids of any suspected person (s). 

Thank you for your anticipated co-operation. 

Dr. Oranusi, C. K

Sub-Dean Student Affairs. 

Cc: provost

       Chief potress (CCH, final year hostel)

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