Open AccessNeed for preventive and control measures for Lassa fever through the One Health strategic approach
Author(s) -
Idris Nasir Abdullahi,
Abubakar Umar Anka,
Peter Elisha Ghamba,
Nkechi Blessing Onukegbe,
Dele Ohinoyi Amadu,
Matthew Oluwafemi Salami
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
proceedings of singapore healthcare
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 9
eISSN - 2059-2329
pISSN - 2010-1058
DOI - 10.1177/2010105820932616
Subject(s) - lassa fever , lassa virus , transmission (telecommunications) , environmental health , public health , virology , medicine , computer science , outbreak , virus , telecommunications , nursing
Lassa virus (LASV) has increasingly been recognised as a significant public-health pathogen transmitted by rodents. LASV infection leads to life-threatening Lassa fever, which has high potential for severe morbidity and mortality. There have been several scientific efforts to understand the genomics and ecological epidemiology of Lassa. However, very limited studies have focused on the short- and long-term impacts of environmental factors, human behaviours and rodent activities on LASV transmission dynamics and control. Recently, a very plausible and ideal way to address the Lassa epidemic has been considered through the One Health approach. The One Health system of intervention is capable of providing better and comprehensive information necessary to address the complex interplay between human, ecological, and environmental determinants of LASV transmission, persistence and re-emergence. Thus, the aim of this article was to review critically the impacts of various environmental factors on rodent infestations, LASV transmission and how human activities contribute to the persistence of Lassa with regard to exploring how they could be harnessed for better understanding of Lassa prevention and control through a concerted One Health approach.