Scientists develop vaccine to protect against Lassa fever

Nigeria witnessed Lassa fever outbreaks in Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Kogi and other places this year alone with about 423 confirmed cases and 106 deaths recorded.

Researchers at Philadelphia University and Thomas Jefferson University have developed a vaccine which could protect people from Lassa fever.

They have tested the new twocomponent vaccine on mice and guinea pigs.

The new breakthrough which was published in the journal Nature Communications shows promise as the researchers have worked out how to test for proteins in the body which could signal how well the body is able to fight the virus.

“It showed good protection from exposure to both virus types in preliminary animal studies,” Lead researcher Dr Matthias Schnell said about the vaccine.

There is currently no vaccine for Lassa contaminate.

Lassa fever outbreak often occurs during the dry season, because bush burning drives rats from the bushes into homes.

The virus is also in the same family of haemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and can either be spread by rats or from personto-person.

Considering the cause of the illness, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, often advised the public to prevent the spread of Lassa fever by not spreading foods to dry along the road, keeping food in tightly sealed containers, wearing protective clothing such as masks, gloves, gowns and goggles when caring for patients with Lassa fever, and avoiding contact with Lassa fever patients’ secretions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers the disease an ‘urgent threat’. In February, it listed Lassa fever among nine other viruses in its annual list of pathogens that research should be fast-tracked for.

According to MailOnline, the vaccine is expected to be safe for humans because it has been used for decades to prevent rabies.

Schnell and colleagues said the breakthrough could point out ways to better develop a vaccine because they’ve found a way to test for chemicals produced inside the body.

When the Lassa virus is in the body the immune system produces proteins which are sent to the virus as part of an effort to try and stop it.

The proteins themselves don’t prevent the infection but they follow the viruses around and could act as beacons, the scientists say.

If there are a lot of them in the body it could signal that the immune system is attacking the Lassa virus, and make the viruses easier to find.

The more of the proteins there are, the more likely it is someone will be immune to the virus.

This method of testing is considered safer than deliberately infecting a patient with the virus to test whether they are immune or not, especially among pregnant women who have a high risk of miscarriage if they’re infected.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Lassa fever is characterized by sudden onset of fever and general weakness. Other symptoms include headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and abdominal pain may follow.

In the most severe cases, individuals may bleed from the mouth, nose, eyes or other parts of the body. The symptoms also gradually progress to shock, seizures, tremors, disorientation and comas when there is no immediate treatment.