Treatment+and+Response-+Lassa+Fever

__Treatment__ The antiviral drug Ribavirin, which is most effective in the early stages of Lassa Fever, has been used to successfully treat infected individuals. While there is not currently a vaccine that is approved to be used on humans, scientists have developed a vaccine for Lassa Fever that has proven effective in macaque monkeys and that is in the process of being adapted for human use.



__Response__ In the aftermath of the outbreak of Lassa Fever in Sierra Leone during the civil war, epidemiologists focused on preventing the primary transmission of Lassa virus by preventing contact with multimammate rats. An emphasis was placed on raising awareness within Sierra Leone of the importance of keeping food and drinking water contained in rodent-proof containers and keeping homes clean to minimize rodent inhabitation. Scientists also discouraged using //Mastomys// rodents as a food source to limit contact with the rats. Despite the impossibility of total control over rat populations, epidemiologists recommended setting rat traps around homes to minimize the number of rats in residential areas. Due to the lacking hospital conditions during the civil war, building a stronger medical system became imperative after the outbreak. Scientists advised hospitals to increase VHF isolations precautions, also called "barrier nursing methods", within hospitals to prevent further transmission to healthcare providers through direct contact with patients. Such precautions include protective clothing, complete equipment sterilization, and isolation of infected patients.