The multimammate mouse mastomys natalensis is the only known nonhuman host for lassa virus monath et al. Lassa fever national center for emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases division of highconsequence pathogens and pathology dhcpp lassa fever is an acute viral illness that occurs in west africa. Lassa fever is known to be endemic in benin, ghana, guinea, liberia, mali, sierra leone, and nigeria, but probably exists in other west african countries as well. Lassa fever is a hemorrhagic viral disease endemic to west africa. Growing outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria worries. Epidemiology of lassa fever and factors associated with. From 1 january 2019 week 1 to 28 april 2019 week 17, 554 laboratoryconfirmed lassa fever cases including 124 deaths were reported from 21 of 37 statesterritory in nigeria. Pdf knowledge, attitude and infection prevention and. Lassa fever is endemic in nigeria and peaks during the first 12 weeks of the year januarymarch. Lassa fever is endemic in parts of west africa including sierra leone, liberia, guinea and nigeria.
Lassa fever outbreak in nigeria is unprecedented, hard to explain. A total of 107 laboratoryconfirmed cases were reported during the first 12 weeks of 2017 and 394 during the same period in 2018. Prevention of lassa fever in nigeria request pdf researchgate. Lassa fever is a viral illness that typically occurs in west africa. Usually, each year sees only a smattering of cases reported, but hospitalized patients risk a 15% chance of death.
The lassa virus is transmitted to humans mainly through handling rats, food or house. Lassa fever was first described in the 1950s, and the viral particle was identified in 1969 from three missionary nurses who died in lassa, nigeria, after caring for an infected obstetrical patient. It is endemic in parts of west africa including sierra leone, liberia, guinea and nigeria. Causes, symptoms, and diagnosis medical news today. Another area with a strong increase in case numbers in. Knowledge and prevention of lassa fever among adults in a. Lesson learned from the investigation and response of lassa fever. Lassa fever full recovery without ribavarin treatment. Lassa fever is reported in benin, cote d ivoire, ghana, guinea, liberia, mali, nigeria, sierra leone and togo. Nigeria has only two laboratories where lassa fever can be definitively diagnosed. Lassa antibody and antigen were found in 96 11% and 46 5%, respectively, of 884 tested mastomys demby et al. Twentyone 21 cases of lassa fever reported as at 3 rd march 2020, with 2 associated deaths.
The risk of getting lassa fever in the united states is extremely low signs and symptoms of lassa fever are usually mild lassa fever can be treated if a healthcare worker suspects lassa fever in a patient, a laboratory test can diagnose the disease. Introduction to lassa fever world health organization. Since november 2015, at least 10 states in nigeria have been affected by an outbreak of lassa fever, an acute viral disease that causes fever, muscle pain, hemorrhage and sometimes death. May 16, 2019 lassa fever was included as a notifiable disease under the international health regulations due to its epidemic prone nature and potential to cause economic and social disruption. The nigerian government has released the statement below on the treatment of lassa fever.
A delay in seeking care by a casepatient for 7 days after symptom onset was the major predictor of death. Goats and soda the number of cases is unprecedented, say medical specialists. Measures to control protracted large lassa fever outbreak in. Situation report of lassa fever outbreak in borno state no. The acute viral haemorrhagic fever is endemic in nigeria but for the current outbreak the hot spots are the southern states of edo, ondo and ebonyi. Strengthen lassa fever case management and infection prevention and control in health facilities in priority areas, including safe burials 6. Introduction lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic. When symptoms occur they typically include fever, weakness, headaches, vomiting, and muscle pains. We investigated the knowledge and risk perception of residents towards lf and determined the factors influencing. Benin co lassa fever update situation in numbers highlights unicef benin is scaling up its emergency response to the ongoing lassa fever outbreak. Since 2015, major increases in lassa fever attack rate and in the casefatality rate have occurred in this state. Low risk perceptions have been reported to prevent appropriate preventive behaviours. Nigerias largest lassa fever outbreak sparked by rats. Increase the capacity for isolation and treatment of suspected and confirmed cases 5.
Lassa fever was first given medical description in the 1950s but the causative viral particle was first identified in 1969 from three missionary nurses who fell ill and died after caring for an infected obstetrical patient in the town of lassa, borno state, nigeria, west africa. Symptoms can be mild or severe, including hemorrhaging in. Researchers in nigeria are racing to identify cases of lassa fever and to understand why the ongoing outbreak is the worst on record. Wondimagegnehu alemu, who representative to nigeria. Deadly lassafever outbreak tests nigerias revamped health. Lassa fever, knowledge, preventive practices, ukpom, akwa ibom state, nigeria. Lassa fever lf is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the lassa virus lasv and. We report the epidemiology of lassa fever in bauchi state, a diseaseendemic region, in nigeria. Increase in lassa fever cases in nigeria, januarymarch 2018.
Deadly lassafever outbreak tests nigerias revamped. Growing outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria worries public health officials. The nigeria centre for disease control ncdc was established in the year 2011 in response to the challenges of public health emergencies and to enhance nigerias preparedness and response to epidemics through prevention, detection and control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases. Feb 16, 2018 lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic illness, is endemic in most of west africa, especially nigeria, where it was discovered in 1969. Knowledge and risk perception towards lassa fever infection. Lassa fever outbreak in nigeria is unprecedented, hard to. We are observing an unusually high number of cases for this time of year. Rats fuelled the largest outbreak of deadly lassa fever in nigeria this year, according to the most extensive and rapid genomic analysis of the lassa virus conducted thus far. General facts viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the arenavirus lassa transmitted from rodents to humans discovered in nigeria, 1969 endemic in portions of west africa seasonal clustering. Lassa fever is one of the hemorrhagic fever viruses, occurring in west africa subregions in similar areas as ebola virus. The virus is named after the town in nigeria where the first cases occurred. The commissioner has assured the public that the situation is under control and call for calm among the residents said there. Distribution of age and sex among patients with laboratoryconfirmed lassa fever, nigeria, january 1may 6, 2018 aors, 95% cis, and p values calculated by using the binomial logistic regression model for fatal outcomes. Lassa fever outbreak leaves 43 dead in nigeria cnn.
Goats and soda the virus is spread primarily by rats during dry season. There was a probable exportation of lassa fever cases from nigeria to benin in 2018. Responding to fears that a 10fold surge in cases in nigeria in 2018 signaled an incipient outbreak, kafetzopoulou et al. Apr 25, 2014 graphical display of prevalence in nigeria 9 1 15 326 1 1 5 6 5 4 29 4 prevalence of lassa fever in nigeria as at 12th feb 2012 anambra ebonyi edo gombe lagos nasarawa ondo plateau rivers taraba yobe anambra 1 ebonyi 15 edo 326 gombe 1 lagos 1 nasarawa 5 ondo 6 plateau 5 rivers 4 taraba 29 yobe 4 10. Failure of the nigerian health system to prioritise preparedness activities has been detrimental for prompt control of lassa fever, which requires robust laboratory. Evidence shows that an outbreak of lassa fever recently occurred in nigeria, involving many states and fatalities. Observed casefatality rate among patients hospitalized with severe cases of lassa fever is 15%. Inability to confirm suspected cases due to financial and logistical issues is a major challenge, notes kingsley ukwaja, resident physician and epidemiologist at the federal teaching hospital in abakaliki, ebonyi state, nigeria. The illness was discovered in lassa, borno state where it was first reported. Symptoms of lassa fever typically occur 221 days after coming into contact with the virus. Mar 19, 2018 lassa fever outbreak in nigeria is unprecedented, hard to explain.
National guidelines for lassa fever case management 1 nigeria centre for disease control foreword the large lassa fever outbreak in nigeria between january and may 2018, increased our awareness of the need to have welldetailed and easily accessible guidelines, for response activities. Knowledge, attitude and infection prevention and control practices regarding lassa fever among healthcare workers in edo state, nigeria article pdf available april 2019 with 666 reads. Lassa fever is a viral disease spread by the the multimammate rat. Parts of west africa, including guinea, sierra leone, nigeria and liberia. Commissioner for health prof, akin abayomi confirmed that the patient is currently in isolation at the lagos university teaching hospital, luth today wednesday 19th geb. Lassa fever is an animalborne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness.
We investigated the knowledge and risk perception of residents towards lf and determined the factors influencing their risk perception in communities that have reported confirmed. Ribavirin, an antiviral drug, has been used to successfully treat patients with lassa fever. Late rainy and early dry season affects all age groups and both sexes. Containing a lassa fever epidemic in a resourcelimited setting. Lassa fever was first discovered in nigeria, when two missionary nurses became ill with the virus in. Lassa virus, the causative agent of lassa fever, is a member of the family arenaviridae. Lassa fever outbreak hits nigeria infectioncontrol. The world report by talha burki feb 24, p 7281 described an unprecedented astronomical rise in lassa fever cases in nigeria, for which the first case was reported in 1969 and the epidemiology and endemicity are well understood. Of the cases reported so far in the nigerian outbreak, the mortality rate is 43. Estimates of seropositivity and mortality from lassa fever in guinea, nigeria, and.
The disease has caused over 100 deaths in the past three months across several states. Lassa fever occurs more often in the dry season, rather than in the rainy season. Lassa fever outbreak in nigeria is unprecedented, hard. Lassa fever lf is an epidemicprone zoonotic disease prevalent in nigeria and ebonyi state is a high burden area in nigeria. As of 19 february 2016, there have been 72 cases 6 confirmed, 12 probable and 54 suspected cases, and 27 people have died cfr 33%. Feb 16, 2018 the world health organization has sent a sixperson team and 40 boxes of personal protective gear to help fight a major outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria. Lassa fever, also known as lassa hemorrhagic fever lhf, is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the lassa virus. Since then, there have been repeated outbreaks in nigeria and other west african countries 3, 4, particularly sierra leone and liberia but also togo, and the republic of benin. Who moves to contain nigerias lassa fever outbreak who. It is widespread in many african countries, such as liberia and sierra leone, and it can be fatal.
Pdf lassa fever, nigeria, 2003 and 2004 peter okokhere. The high number of lassa fever cases is concerning. Epidemiologic and clinical features of lassa fever outbreak. Lassa virus causes lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic fever. Who is scaling up its response to an outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria, which has spread to 18 states and may have infected more than. Lassa fever is spread through direct contact with the. Caseload and case fatality of lassa fever in nigeria, 2001. Measures to control protracted large lassa fever outbreak. Treatment of lassa fever is free premium times nigeria. Progress and challenges of lassa fever control in nigeria the lancet.
Metagenomic sequencing at the epicenter of the nigeria 2018. Jun 27, 2018 lassa fever is a viral disease spread by the the multimammate rat. It is the most commonly exported hemorrhagic fever. Lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic fever, extremely virulent and often infectious, occurs very frequently in different parts of nigeria 14 and affects approximately 100,000500,000 persons per year in west africa 5, 6. Request pdf prevention of lassa fever in nigeria although specific treatment is available for lassa fever, early diagnosis is still difficult in most nigerian. Lassa fever is endemic in nigeria, with outbreaks almost every year in different parts of the country.
Increase the national capacity to detect and confirm lassa fever infection rapidly 4. The world health organization has sent a sixperson team and 40 boxes of personal protective gear to help fight a major outbreak of lassa fever in. The illness was discovered in 1969 when two missionary nurses died in nigeria. Olalekan aw 2016 preepidemic preparedness and the control of lassa fever in southern nigeria. The animal reservoir of the lassa fever virus is a rat, mastomys natalensis.
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