First discovered in Nigeria, the symptoms of this disease can seem similar to Ebola Name Lassa fever Transmission An infectious haemorrhagic virus which lives in the Mastomys or multimammate rat People become infected mostly through direct contact with infected rats or through food or household items contaminated with infected rodent feces/urine Person-to-person transmission via exposure to blood, tissue, […]
This disease can make your limbs look like the legs of an elephant Name Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis Transmission An infectious tropical disease caused by three types of filarial parasites (thread-like roundworms) These microscopic worms live in the lymphatic system for an average of 5–8 years and disrupt the immune system Mosquitoes transmit the […]
There are six different types of meningitis and all have the potential to kill Name Meningitis. The six types are: Bacterial Viral Fungal Parasitic Amoebic Non-infectious In this post, we are focusing on a type of bacterial meningitis called meningococcal meningitis Transmission Meningitis is a serious infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain […]
This virus is spread through the same mosquitoes that carry Zika and Dengue Name Chikunguya (in the Kimakonde language of Tanzania and Mozambique, “chikungunya” means “to become contorted” which describes patients who are bent over from severe joint pain, one of the symptoms) Transmission The virus is transmitted to humans through infected mosquitoes Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already […]
Another week, another #ItStartsWithMe school visit! Today we went to Ayetoro Senior Grammar School in Ebute-Metta, Lagos. At this rate, we’re going to have students all across Lagos washing their hands and practicing good hygiene. And here are the students singing another one of our favourite handwashing songs! The lyrics are written below the video so you […]
Surpassing malaria, dengue is the fastest growing mosquito-borne disease in the world Name Dengue Transmission A disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses The viruses are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito It occasionally develops into a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue which has become a […]