17/04/2026
Prevention of Lassa fever.
Focus on 3 levels: community, hospital, and personal. Nigeria & WHO recommendations
COMMUNITY/PERSONAL LEVEL
1. Rodent control — break the main transmission route*
- Store food in rodent-proof containers* with tight lids. Don’t leave leftovers open overnight
- Block rat holes around houses and keep surroundings clean
- Dispose garbage away from homes so you dont attract rats
- *Avoid bush burning* which drives rats into homes
- *Don’t eat rats* or use them as a food source
2. Hygiene & food safety*
- *Wash hands often*, especially before eating and after handling anything that could be contaminated
- *Avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth* with unwashed hands
- Keep food covered* and preserve foodstuffs properly to prevent rat contamination
- Maintain good environmental cleanliness* in and around the home.
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HOSPITAL LEVEL
Healthcare & outbreak measures*
- Early detection & isolation. Suspected cases need prompt testing and isolation to prevent spread
- Barrier nursing & PPE: Health workers are to use Personal Protective Equipment to avoid nosocomial spread
- Safe &proper disposal of body fluids, excreta, and contaminated materials
- ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL
-Strengthen labs & surveillance: Nigeria now has 4 labs for Lassa testing + transport systems for samples
- *Risk communication*: Massive Community sensitization on symptoms and prevention
4. No vaccine yet, but treatment exists*
- *No FDA-approved vaccine* currently.
- *Ribavirin* is used off-label and cuts mortality if given within 6 days of symptoms.
- STAY SAFE