1.1 Introduction
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses (VHFC, 2013). It is transmitted to humans from contacts with food or household items contaminated with rodent excreta (CDC, 2004). The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa. Person-to- person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in the hospital environment in the absence of adequate infection control measures (Ogbu et al. 2007). Diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential. Early treatment of Lassa fever is very important for survival and requires specialized treatment using the guanosine analogue ribavirin. Care must also be taken to avoid spread of the disease in hospital settings (Achinge et al., 2013 and Micheal et al., 2001).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
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