Lassa fever hits 17 states

Lassa fever has continued to spread in Nigeria with 913 suspected cases and 73 deaths in 17 states this year with Edo and Ondo bearing 75 per cent of the burden. The acute viral haemorrhagic illness of two-21 days duration is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.An earlier report, penultimate week, had put the figures at 615 suspected cases with 43 deaths. The unprecedented outbreak, in severe cases, causes facial swelling, fluid in the lung cavity, bleeding from the mouth, nose, vagina or gastrointestinal tract and low blood pressure.

Analysis of these figures published by The Nigeria Centres for Disease Control (NCDC) Abuja showed that cases of Lassa fever have rocketed by nearly 50 per cent in ten days (from 615 on February 13 to 913 on February 23). Another interesting thing is that the case fatality ratio (CFR) has increased 15 per cent recorded by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Fact Sheet on Lassa fever to 23.9 per cent by the NCDC.

The Guardian investigation revealed that the rapid spread of the virus might be the high cost of the only available effective treatment, antiviral drug ribavirin, at N500, 000 per patient. This means the Federal Government would need more than N456.5 million to treat the suspected 913 cases.

According to the WHO, the antiviral drug ribavirin seems to be an effective treatment for Lassa fever if given early in the course of clinical illness. There is no evidence to support the role of ribavirin as post-exposure prophylactic treatment for Lassa fever.It is also gathered that there is currently no vaccine that protects against Lassa fever and only prompt detection and early onset of treatment can save patients’ lives.

This situation is unfolding just days after the WHO named the deadly virus in its list of pathogens that pose the most “urgent” threat to human existence.When contacted yesterday, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said: “The numbers are still increasing. We are doing everything possible to contain the situation. The facilities in the two states with 75 per cent of the burden are overstretched that is Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State, and Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo, Ondo. The situation is also bad in Ebonyi. We have to focus on prevention especially the health workers who are very vulnerable. They have to always use universal precaution.”

On why the Federal Government is always reactive and not proactive on this type of situations, the epidemiologist said: “Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria. Humans usually become infected with Lassa virus from exposure to urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats. Lassa virus may also be spread between humans through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, or other bodily secretions of a person infected with Lassa fever.’’Manager of the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Emergency Operations Centre, Elsie Ilori, said, “the situation currently ‘is overwhelming.”

In an interview with Bloomberg, she explained that the current outbreak is “more than what we have seen before.” Currently, Lassa fever testing is carried out across three laboratories in Nigeria. The NCDC has provided support for all testing laboratories with provision of reagents and other consumables. “It is hoped that in the near future, States are able to build and support laboratories to carry out Lassa fever testing.”

Culled from Guardian

7 THINGS TO CARRY LIKE A CRATE OF EGGS

There are things we must carry and handle with extra- carefulness because these things are fragile and once broken, it is not easy to put back together and once some of these things get broken, they can lead to huge damage and destiny wastage.

1. Your Name:

Your name is very important and fragile. There are names that stinks in the ears of people simply because, those who bear those names spoilt the name. The way to handle your name with carefulness​ is to be careful of your doings. Your actions can rubbish your name. A good name can open doors for you & for your children and generations after you.

Carry your name with carefulness. It is a huge asset. Here is one of the quotes written by Shakespeare:

'Whoever steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name, my enviable reputation
Robs me of that which does not enrich him, But makes me poor indeed'.

2: Your heart:

Many hearts are broken, shattered, wounded and bitter today. One of the factors responsible for this is becoz many of these hearts' owners were careless with their hearts. You can guard your heart from being broken and bitter. Run away from people, and things that are bent on breaking your heart. Carry your heart like a crate of eggs. You need a whole heart before you can be said to be fully whole!


3: Your purpose:

Your purpose is your destiny. If you don't handle it with utmost carefulness, it can slip off your hands and gaze and get broken. So many things can come like pressure on this crate of egg of purpose. Discouragement, lack of fund, anxieties, etc. These are things that may want to come like pressure on your purpose to break it. Don't allow them! Carry it with care. Carry your purpose away from people and things that may want to put pressure on it and break it.

4: Your health:

You have only this body as a vehicle that will carry you through your journey of destiny in this life. Handle your health with carefulness. No matter how big your vision is, once you are dead, nobody can really run the vision like you! Fight for your health. Avoid things that can destroy your health. Wealth is useless when your health becomes useless. Don't kill yourself before your time. Do your best to stay alive. WE STILL NEED YOU HERE ON EARTH. Don't use your FORK, KNIFE, GLASS and your SPOON to dig your grave. Watch what you EAT and DRINK. Don't eat anything bcoz it is edible and don't drink anything bcoz it is appetizing. Always pray for divine immunization against sickness and diseases.

5: Your Marriage:

SO MANY PEOPLE HANDLE THEIR MARRIAGE LIKE A CARTON OF INDOMIE NODDLE. Your marriage is fragile. Handle it like a crate of egg. It must not break! A broken marriage is not easily put back together, because, when a marriage breaks, many things get broken with it. Husband and wife must always carry their marriage like an egg. It must not break!

6: Your words:

Your worth is attached to your words. Be careful with words. Once broken, you can't gather them up again. Many people are careless with their words. They speak violently. They make empty promises and break them. Some say things they later wish they never said. Guard your words. Be careful with your diction.

7: Your eternity:

Those who are running up and down to fulfill destiny here on Earth without thinking of their eternity do not belong here! The matter of eternity is not something you should handle with levity. Think about where you will spend eternity. You will die one day. I will also die one day. All that we are and have in this world are vanity upon vanity.

Take the matter of your end very serious. Stop living carelessly as if you have extra life. Don't live for the pleasure of this world. Have the hereafter in mind in all that you do.

Grace is available

Your Kidney Deserves the Best Care

Your Kidney Deserves the Best Care

The rate at which young people are suffering from Kidney disease is alarming. We recently lost a dear brother to this condition. I am sharing a post which can help us. Please read below:

IMPORTANT: The kidney deserves the best care

Barely two (2) days ago, we all received the news of the demise of a Nigerian actor as a result of kidney disease. Also our Minister for Public Works, the Honorable Teko Lake is currently in the Hospital on life support with Kidney problems. I want to show you how to avert this menace of kidney disease.

SO HERE ARE THE TOP 6 CAUSES OF KIDNEY DISEASE


1. Delaying going to a toilet Keeping your urine in your bladder for
too long is a bad idea. A full bladder can cause bladder damage.
The urine that stays in the bladder multiplies bacteria quickly.
Once the urine refluxes back to the ureter and kidneys, the toxic
substances can result in kidney infections, then urinary tract
infections, and then nephritis, and even uremia. When nature calls
– do it as soon as possible.

2. Eating too much salt,You should eat no more than 5.8 grams of
salt daily.

3. Eating too much meat. Too much protein in your diet is harmful
for your kidneys. Protein digestion produces ammonia – a toxin
that is very destructive to your kidneys. More meat equals more
kidney damage.

4. Drinking too much caffeine Caffeine is a component of many
sodas and soft drinks. It raises your blood pressure and your
kidneys start suffering. So you should cut down the amount of
coke you drink daily.

5. Not drinking water. Our kidneys should be hydrated properly to
perform their functions well. If we don’t drink enough, the toxins
can start accumulating in the blood, as there isn’t enough fluid to
drain them through the kidneys. Drink more than 10 glasses of
water daily. There is an easy way to check if you are drinking
enough water: look at the colour of your urine; the lighter the
colour, the better.

6. Late treatment . Treat all your health problems properly and
have your health checked regularly. Let's help ourselves. God will
protect you and your family from every disease this year.

*What can you do for your kidneys?*

1. Keep fit and active.
2. Keep regular control of your blood sugar level.
3. Monitor your blood pressure.
4. Eat healthy and keep your weight in check.
5. Maintain a healthy fluid intake.
6. Do not smoke.
7. Do not take over-the-counter pills on a regular basis.

Avoid these Tablets, they are very dangerous:

D-cold
Vicks Action-500
Actified
Coldarin
Cosome
Nice
Nimulid
Cetrizet-D
They contain Phenyl Propanol-Amide PPA. Which causes Strokes & Are banned in the USA.

Please, before deleting, HELP your friends by passing it..!
It might help someone. Forward to as many as u can. Social media is free. So, forward it please.

Please read and forward.

Doctors in the United States have found new cancer in human beings, caused by Silver Nitro Oxide. Whenever you buy recharge cards, don’t scratch with your nails, as it contains Silver Nitro Oxide coating and can cause skin cancer. Share this message with your loved ones.

Important Health Tips:

a. Answer phone calls with the left ear.
b. Don't take your medicine with cold water.
c. Don't eat heavy meals after 5pm.
d. Drink more water in the morning, less at night.
e. Best sleeping time is from 10pm to 4 am.
f. Don’t lie down immediately taking medicine or after meals.
g. When phone battery is low to last bar, don't answer the phone, because the radiation is 1000 times stronger.

Can you forward this to people you care about?

Kindness costs nothing, but knowledge is power...


Copied!!!