The Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria: Beware of Lassa fever!!

Dear All,

Nigeria has been experiencing Lassa fever outbreak in the past six weeks in Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo and Oyo states with the Federal Government stating that the number of reported cases since the outbreak is 76 with 35 deaths already recorded and 14 cases confirmed by laboratories. Although there has not been any reported case in Lagos, we need to take the necessary precaution in all what we do including educating ourselves on the causes of Lassa fever and improving on our hygiene both at work and at home.

According to the WHO, Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses and was first described in 1969 in the town of Lassa, in Borno State, Nigeria. It is transmitted to humans from contacts with food or household items contaminated with rodent excreta. The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa. The possibility of person-to-person infections with about 80% of the cases being asymptomatic and laboratory transmission makes it a very dangerous disease, particularly in the hospital environment in the absence of adequate infection control measures.

A.     SYMPTOMS OF LASSA FEVER

The signs and symptoms of Lassa fever commonly happens 4-21 days after post infection with the virus. Mild symptoms include:

i.                    Weakness

ii.                  Headaches

iii.                Slight fever

iv.                General illness

However, the disease might progress to more serious symptoms that include

i.                    hemorrhaging of the person’s eyes, gums, or nose

ii.                   repeated vomiting, respiratory distress

iii.                 pain in the back, chest and abdomen, facial swelling and shock.

iv.                The most common complication of Lassa fever is deafness. Different degrees of deafness happen in around one-third of those who become infected. Between 15-20% of people who are hospitalized for Lassa fever die from the illness. Only 1% of all Lassa virus infections; however, result in the person’s death.

B.     WAYS OF PREVENTING LASSA FEVER.

The good thing about this disease is that it is preventable. Thus, the importance of good hygiene. Here are some more measures to keep in place:

i.                    Avoid contact between rats and human beings

ii.                   Keep your house and Environment clean Cover all foods and water properly.

iii.                Cook all foods thoroughly

iv.                Store foodstuffs in rodent proof containers

v.                  Block all rat hideouts if you suspect that rat has eaten any food. Please stay safe and share with others to create awareness. Thanks

Ballon d'Or: see Ronaldo's reaction after he lost to Messi

Click on the video to watch

The three time world best player had high hopes of retaining his title for the fourth time but was disappointed at the end of the day.

He had a good season last year but his counterpart, Messi was at the top of every game he played. Messi's award was no less than he deserves.

The world’s greatest player of all time.

At merely 28 years old and likely still in the midst of his prime, Messi has transcended his sport in a way nobody else ever had before. And long before his body of work is completed, it seems certain now that he'll be remembered as the greatest of all time.

It was formerly disputed that Messi was greater than Pele but after he came out as the new King of football at ballon d'Or yesterday, surely there's no debate to be had any longer. Let's take an honest assessment of things and consider all the competitions both players have been involved in.

Throughout Pele's career as a football player, he never played in an European competition where the best players in the world battled for top spot. He only faced international competition every four years (at the World Cup). 

Messi on the other hand plays in Europe every week facing the toughest competitions ever and still he has been the key player in the team not only by scoring but also creating chances. The little dribbler has won the Champions League four times and La Liga seven times – and counting. He has also lead his club side to win six trophies during the course of one year. Though he is yet to win the World Cup, he has led his team to the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Copa America finals. Messi has truly proven to be unmatchable.

It's been established for some time now that Ronaldo, while also surely one of the best ever, isn't quite up to his level either.

At the very top, there is only Messi. He was the best in 2015, and he's been better than every other man in any year before it.

A preview of his records in 2015 are listed below:
*61 games, 52 goals and 26 assists.

*A goal every 101 minutes and an assist every 202 minutes.

*Best minutes-per-goal rate - 80 - of anyone scoring a minimum of 10 goals across Europe's top five leagues during 2015.

*Directly involved in 49 goals in La Liga - 34 scored and 15 assists - which was the joint-most with Ronaldo in 2015 across the top five European leagues.

*Scored in all six club tournaments in 2015, as Barcelona won five of them.

Congratulations! to Messi. we hope to see him beat his records this 2016.