PRACTICE SAFE HEALTH : THE HEALTH OF ONE MAN IS THE HEALTH OF ALL - Nuhu Anyegwu advice students

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.. Continued from previous week
...the urine of patients contains micro-organisms, as the person sneezes the air from the upper respiratory part  contains micro-organisms. All these things are very prevalent in hospital settings. This accounts for why it is recommended that every hospital suppose to have a well organized waste management systems. One of such means of waste disposal is a standard incinerator. It is by means of this, the waste can be burnt , totally eliminated. However , where do we have it in Kogi State. Where do we have it in Nigeria ? It means , therefore, in the case of any outbreak now. Just like I will soon tell you about Lassa fever . Somebody  is vomiting , stooling etc. The vomitus contains the virus and by extension flies which are very ubiquitous everywhere will start carrying them on  their legs, and hairy body’s and start taking it far and wide . Before you know it has started here and there across the country causing a big havoc. 

God forbid in a family of 10, 8 people can die. And depending on their level of immunity 10 people can die as well. It is as a result of this , we are taking the bull by the horn quickly to really deal with the present Scourge immediately.

I discovered ignorance is a major problem in this country. People are highly ignorant. Ignorance permeates in almost all strata of our human society. What dispels ignorance is the right understanding arisen from knowledge transmitted to people. And that is why I am here to spread this knowledge to you concerning the epidemiology of Lassa fever. 

Lassa Fever is a disease transmitted from animal to man. It is an acute viral hemorrhage fever. It was first discovered in Nigeria in 1969 by a Doctor..... in Borno State in a town called Lassa in the state. Hence , the name Lassa fever infection, it is a communicable disease because it has etiological agents. 

There is a micro organism responsible for it called Lassa fever virus. It is a viral infection that belong to the family of Arena Virus. A virus is called acute . This is because it manifest suddenly. It is acute viral haemorrhaged fever. Hemorrhage means bleeding. One of the signs and symptoms of the disease is bleeding through various body openings, one you have it. We call it haemorrhage fever. It is a feverish condition. It raises body temperature from the normal one to above 37°C, acute viral haemorrhage fever caused by virus. 

The virus has 6 to 21 days incubation period. There is a great importance attached to incubation period of a communicable disease. We use it in the control. Because of this present situation now, if you are travelling out of this country, at the sea port, airport, there is a serious surveillance, examination going on. And if you are detected to be harbouring the virus, you will be separated, we call it ISOLATION. 

Separating an infected person or a  contact is a serious point at issue. Somebody suspected to have closeness with an  infected person is placed in a place where he or she will not have contact with members of the public equal to the numbers of days that is the same with the number of days of the incubation period. This is what we called isolation and quarantine.

All suspects ,  contacts, infected person see always isolated. Talking about the epidemiology of the disease we mentioned incubation period. Practically, it is already observed somebody is having lassa fever infection. And you are in that compound with him/her. Perhaps, you have being taking care of him or her , washing clothes and doing all that . You are a contact , if government detected anybody like that , you will be separated; you are not in ill-health. You will be quarantined and be under close observation for a number of days equal to the incubation period of that disease. 

You will be kept in a place where you will not be able to go to market, visit the museum or any public place. This is with a view not to infect others . You will be separated for a number of days equal to the incubation period. After the incubation and you did not manifest it, you are free !

Incubation period if the disease is the time interval within which pathogenic organisms enter into ahl host , multiplied, replicate, develop until it becomes an infection stage capable of infecting others. The incubation period of Lassa fever , therefore is 6- 21 days. 

Signs and Symptoms

Fever , headache, muscular pains , general body pains , tiredness, vomiting, bleeding via different body openings - mouth- anus - that is what I mean by body openings, sore throat, throat pains, head ache , high body temperature (hot body). What do we need to know about signs and symptoms. 

... to be continued

BEING AN EXCERPT TAKEN FROM THE SPEECH DELIVERED BY NUHU ANYEGU, PROVOST COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY DURING A SENSITIZATION TOUR VOLUNTARILY ORGANISED BY THE SPEAKER AS A PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER @ UPERROOM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IDAH, KOGI STATE NIGERIA

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