Epidemiology of lassa fever and factors associated with. Pdf lassa fever, nigeria, 2003 and 2004 peter okokhere. Basically, lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever transmitted by rats. Knowledge and prevention of lassa fever among adults in a. Apr 20, 2016 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. Lassa fever lf is an epidemicprone zoonotic disease prevalent in nigeria and ebonyi state is a high burden area in nigeria. Increase the capacity for isolation and treatment of suspected and confirmed cases 5. Lassa virus was and continues to be the major cause of hemorrhagic fever in western africa, infecting roughly 400,000500,000 individuals per year and yielding a death rate of 30,00040,000. The casefatality rate of lassa fever in this study was 23% in men and 44% in women. Deadly lassafever outbreak tests nigerias revamped health agency. We are observing an unusually high number of cases for this time of year. Lesson learned from the investigation and response of lassa fever. In addition, lf is the most exported vhf, particularly to europe 4, 7, 8 and america. Annual incidence of 100,000 to 300,000 with approximately 5,000 deaths in west africa.
In its severest form, if it is not treated, the disease can lead to death. Researchers in nigeria are racing to identify cases of lassa fever and to understand why the ongoing. She coordinates the lassa fever response activities and production of various guidelines for lassa fever control in nigeria. Since 2015, major increases in lassa fever attack rate and in the casefatality rate have occurred in this state.
Introduction lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic. Weekly epidemiological report nigeria centre for disease. Lassa fever is mainly found in sierra leone, liberia, guinea, and nigeria and is. Treatment of lassa fever is free premium times nigeria. Late rainy and early dry season affects all age groups and both sexes. Some people who get infected have few or no symptoms. Of the cases reported so far in the nigerian outbreak, the mortality rate is 43. Emphasis was placed on papers reporting findings from nigeria. 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.
Moh benin sitrep 19 february 2016 humanitarian leadership and coordination unicef coordinates the establishment of an isolation and treatment. However, sporadic lassa infections may have also occurred. Prevention of lassa fever in nigeria request pdf researchgate. Epidemiologic and clinical features of lassa fever. Lassa fever outbreak leaves 43 dead in nigeria cnn. Its is endemic in areas of west africa including nigeria, liberia, sierra leone and guinea. 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.
It is the most commonly exported hemorrhagic fever. 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. Mar 15, 2018 the nigeria cdc has become stronger and faster, says kingsley ukwaja, a physician at the federal teaching hospital, abakaliki in ebonyi state a hotspot for the current lassa outbreak. Ilori is the national lassa fever technical working group team lead at the nigeria centre for disease control in abuja, nigeria. Frank is an epidemiologist at the robert koch institute in berlin, germany. 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. Usually, each year sees only a smattering of cases reported, but hospitalized patients risk a 15% chance of death. Lassa fever accounted for 7% of admissions and % of deaths in the adult medical wards of irrua specialist teaching hospital, irrua, nigeria. Lagos, nigeria cnn at least 78 people have been confirmed dead and 353 are infected in an unprecedented outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria, according to the nigeria centre for disease control.
This followed the increase in the number of lassa fever cases reported in states since the beginning of the year, the nigeria. The country is fighting an outbreak of lassa virus, which is transmitted in rodent feces and urine and. Baseline mapping of lassa fever virology, epidemiology and. An outbreak of lassa fever occurred in nigeria during 2018 and spread to 18 of the countrys states. Deadly lassafever outbreak tests nigerias revamped.
Lassa fever can be difficult to diag nose and the use of simple universal precautions during patient. Deadly lassafever outbreak tests nigerias revamped health. The mass media encompasses print and nonprint methods of disseminating information including magazines, newspapers, radio, and television to a large. Lassa fever outbreak hits nigeria infectioncontrol. Lassa fever lf, one of the severe viral hemorrhagic fevers vhf, was first reported from nigeria in 1969. Wondimagegnehu alemu, who representative to nigeria. Increase in lassa fever cases in nigeria, januarymarch 2018. The nigerian government has released the statement below on the treatment of lassa fever. Nigerian health authorities on tuesday declared a new outbreak of lassa fever that has killed 16 people since early january, despite successfully containing the disease last year. Jun 27, 2018 lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease. It is endemic in parts of west africa including sierra leone, liberia, guinea and nigeria. Introduction to lassa fever world health organization. Lagos, nigeria cnn at least 43 people have died and 450 people are ill in a lassa fever outbreak in nigeria, according to the world health. Cases by week, from week 51 in 2015 to week 7 in 2016.
Measures to control protracted large lassa fever outbreak in. Failure of the nigerian health system to prioritise preparedness activities has been detrimental for prompt control of lassa fever, which. Lassa fever is mainly found in sierra leone, liberia, guinea, and nigeria and is spread by rats. Feb 16, 2018 lagos, nigeria cnn at least 43 people have died and 450 people are ill in a lassa fever outbreak in nigeria, according to the world health organization. Lassa fever estimated number of deaths lassa fever is caused by a virus that is found in west africa. The virus is named after the town in nigeria where the first cases occurred.
Caseload and case fatality of lassa fever in nigeria, 2001. Lassa fever lf is a zoonotic disease associated with acute and potentially fatal hemorrhagic illness caused by the lassa virus lasv, a. Lassa fever is one of the hemorrhagic fever viruses, occurring in west africa subregions in similar areas as ebola virus. Lassa fever in the eastern province of sierra leone, 19701972. Metagenomic sequencing at the epicenter of the nigeria 2018. Growing outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria worries. Epidemiologic and clinical features of lassa fever outbreak. 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. Lassa fever lf is an epidemicprone zoonotic viral haemorrhagic disease caused by lassa fever virus lfv, a member of the arenaviridae family 1. Evidence shows that an outbreak of lassa fever recently occurred in nigeria, involving many states and fatalities. Responding to fears that a 10fold surge in cases in nigeria in 2018 signaled an incipient outbreak, kafetzopoulou et al. Pdf knowledge, attitude and infection prevention and.
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. Lassa fever causes, symptoms, treatment, diagnosis. Regarding lassa fever among healthcare w orkers in edo state, nigeria different cadres of health care workers were found to be statistically significant x 2 6. 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. On february 8, guinea reported the first death from lassa.
Lassa virus is one of more than 25 causative viruses of viral hemorrhagic fever table 4. In this post, we take a look at lassa fever in nigeria, its outbreaks and preventive solutions. 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. Practically,lassa fever is caused by lassa virus which is found predominantly in west africa and it has been linked to thousands of deaths since it was discovered. A delay in seeking care by a casepatient for 7 days after symptom onset was the major predictor of death. 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.
Measures to control protracted large lassa fever outbreak. Late rainy and early dry season affects all age groups and both sexes 3. Mar 19, 2018 lassa, named for the town in nigeria where it was first discovered in 1969, is a hemorrhagic fever, like ebola. 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. 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. How can i prevent getting infected with lassa fever. Lassa fever occurs more often in the dry season, rather than in the rainy season. Nigeria declares lassa fever outbreak, activates emergency. Results lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever, caused by the lassa virus and first reported in. 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.
Yinkaogunleye a, ipadeola o, saleh m, ilori e, dannwafor c, nwachukwu w, et al. Key points there were 99 suspected cases, ten confirmed cases and no death was recorded from six lgas in five states. Growing outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria worries public health officials. On 22 january, nigerian public health authorities declared the outbreak and emergency. Feb 16, 2018 lassa fever erupts in nigeria a pile of garri, a staple food in nigeria, in a shop in lagos. In this article, we take a look at lassa fever in nigeria, its outbreaks and preventive solutions. Low risk perceptions have been reported to prevent appropriate preventive behaviours. Lassa fever was first discovered in nigeria, when two missionary nurses became. Lassa, named for the town in nigeria where it was first discovered in 1969, is a hemorrhagic fever, like ebola.
Lassa fever is an acute viral illness that occurs in west africa. Nigeria s news has pushed ghanas health services to caution healthcare providers about lassa fever, but no cases have appeared there. Lassa fever is spread through direct contact with the. You cannot get lassa fever through hugging, shaking hands or sitting near someone. 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. The mass media encompasses print and nonprint methods of disseminating information including magazines, newspapers, radio. Reports on the disease outbreak indicated that at the commencement of 2012, the nigeria federal ministry of health sent notification of the lassa fever outbreak in nigeria to the world health organization. The illness was discovered in lassa, borno state where it was first reported. Neighboring countries are also at risk, as the animal vector for lassa virus, the multimammate rat mastomys natalensis is distributed throughout the region. It is a very unusual situation, said wondimagegnehu alemu, who representative in nigeria. Lassa fever is reported in benin, cote d ivoire, ghana, guinea, liberia, mali, nigeria, sierra leone and togo. 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. Results lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever, caused by the lassa virus and first reported in lassa town, borno state, nigeria. In particular, the association of lassa virus and a primary rodent reservoirhost has been confirmed.
Lassa fever is an animalborne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness. Metagenomic sequencing at the epicenter of the nigeria. 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. We investigated the knowledge and risk perception of residents towards lf and determined the factors influencing their risk perception in communities that have. By the same stage of 2017, the country had reported fewer than 200 cases. Lf is endemic in nigeria, liberia, sierra leone, benin, ghana, guinea and mali 1. The large lassa fever outbreak in nigeria between january and may 2018, increased our. We report the epidemiology of lassa fever in bauchi state, a diseaseendemic region, in nigeria. 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. A total of 788 suspected cases and 117 deaths were reported during the outbreak. Mastomys natalensis, a multimammate, peridomestic rat is the reservoir. Mar 20, 2018 lassa fever lf is a zoonotic disease associated with acute and potentially fatal hemorrhagic illness caused by the lassa virus lasv, a member of the family arenaviridae. Confirmed lassa fever rate per 100,000 population for lgas in nigeria, cumulative 2020 to current week.
Lassa fever was first discovered in nigeria, when two missionary nurses became ill with the virus in 1969. Progress and challenges of lassa fever control in nigeria the lancet. The disease has caused over 100 deaths in the past three months across several states. National emergency operations centre eoc has been activated to coordinate response activities across states public health emergency operations centre activated in affected states. National guideline for lassa fever case management ncdc. Parts of west africa, including guinea, sierra leone, nigeria and liberia. 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. Benin was last affected by lassa fever over a 4 monthperiod in 20142015 when 16 cases were reported and 9 people died.
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. Failure of the nigerian health system to prioritise preparedness activities has been detrimental for prompt control of lassa fever, which requires robust laboratory. The disease was first described in the 1950s, and the virus was identified in 1969 after 2 missionary nurses died from the disease in the nigerian. Lassa fever, knowledge, preventive practices, ukpom, akwa ibom state, nigeria.
Prevention of lassa fever in nigeria transactions of the. There was a probable exportation of lassa fever cases from nigeria to benin in 2018. We investigated the knowledge and risk perception of residents towards lf and determined the factors influencing. 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. 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. Nigeria on tuesday declared a lassa fever outbreak in the country. Nigeria has only two laboratories where lassa fever can be definitively diagnosed. Parts of west africa, including guinea, sierra leone. The casefatality rate of lassa fever irrespective of gender was 28%. Goats and soda the virus is spread primarily by rats during dry season. The high number of lassa fever cases is concerning. Strengthen lassa fever case management and infection prevention and control in health facilities in priority areas, including safe burials 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.
The illness was discovered in 1969 when two missionary nurses died in nigeria. Increase the national capacity to detect and confirm lassa fever infection rapidly 4. Keep your home clean and tidy to discourage rats from entering 4. Lassa fever is a hemorrhagic viral disease endemic to west africa. It was first discovered in 1969 in lassa, nigeria when two missionary nurses died. Knowledge and risk perception towards lassa fever infection. The disease has been known since the 1950s, but the virus was not identified until 1969, when two missionary nurses died from it in the town of lassa in nigeria.
Lassa fever lf is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the lassa virus lasv and. As the lancet went to press, the nigeria centre for disease control had reported 615 suspected cases of lassa fever and 57 deaths since the beginning of the year. The lassa virus is transmitted to humans mainly through handling rats, food or household items contaminated by rats urine and faeces. What you need to know about lassa fever 6 april 6 april 6 april 6 april 6 april 6 april 6 april.
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