Lassa fever is an animalborne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness. On 14 january, nigerias centre for disease control reported at least 140 suspected cases, of which 30 were laboratory confirmed. Lassa fever in nigeria, benin, togo, germany and usa reliefweb. Nigerias news has pushed ghanas health services to caution healthcare providers about lassa fever, but no cases have appeared there. Ilori is the national lassa fever technical working group. Lassa fever is endemic in many parts of west africa particularly guinea, liberia, nigeria and sierra leone and usually causes seasonal outbreaks from december to march.
Distribution of confirmed and probable lassa fever cases in nigeria as at august 2017. Benin was last affected by lassa fever over a 4 monthperiod in 20142015 when 16 cases were reported and 9 people died. Containing current lassa fever outbreaks in nigeria the. The country is fighting an outbreak of lassa virus, which is transmitted in rodent feces and urine and. Lassa fever is reported in benin, cote divoire, ghana, guinea, liberia, mali, nigeria, sierra leone and togo. The high number of lassa fever cases is concerning. Assessment of the level of knowledge and universal cross. 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.
We conducted an audit of patient files of suspected lf cases. Lassa fever outbreak in nigeria, worst in history, kills 78. Failure of the nigerian health system to prioritise preparedness activities has been detrimental for prompt control of lassa fever, which requires robust laboratory. Introduction to lassa fever world health organization.
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 virus is excreted in urine for 3 9 weeks after infection and in semen for 3 months. Lassa fever is reported in benin, cote d ivoire, ghana, guinea, liberia, mali, nigeria, sierra leone and togo. Increase in lassa fever cases in nigeria, januarymarch 2018. An outbreak of lassa fever occurred in nigeria during 2018 and spread to 18 of the countrys states. Lassa fever is endemic in most parts of sierra leone. Mar 15, 2018 deadly lassafever outbreak tests nigerias revamped health agency. Symptoms include fever and damage to multiple organs and the circulatory system. The lassa virus is transmitted to humans mainly through handling rats, food or house hold items. Knowledge of lassa fever disease and its risk factors.
Sep 27, 2012 lassa fever case management was improved at a tertiary health institution in nigeria through establishment of a laboratory for routine diagnostics of lassa virus. Yinkaogunleye a, ipadeola o, saleh m, ilori e, dannwafor c, nwachukwu w, et al. Lassa fever had been reported as a cause of death especially in endemic parts of nigeria. Travelers to nigeria should avoid contact with rats, especially rat urine and feces, and keep their accommodations or campsites clean. Of the cases reported so far in the nigerian outbreak, the mortality rate is 43. Lassa fever is endemic in nigeria and peaks during the first 12 weeks of the year januarymarch. Confirmed lassa fever cases by states in nigeria, week 01 20, 2020. It is a disease of public health importance in west africa and a global health threat. Confirmed lassa fever rate per 100,000 population for lgas in nigeria, cumulative 2020 to current week. The disease is highly contagious and spread like wild fire.
Lesson learned from the investigation and response of lassa fever. Currently, 3126 contactshave beenidentified, and 1586 are being. A growing lassa fever outbreak in nigeria has killed 101 people, as west africa battles to contain a flare up of the virus, according to data from the nations health authorities released saturday. Mar 16, 2018 lassa fever has a mortality rate of 1% for all those infected with the virus. The disease is endemic in sierra leone, guinea, liberia and nigeria with about 300000 to 500000 cases occurring yearly and about 5000 deaths. Seroprevalence and risk factors for lassa fever infection in. On february 8, guinea reported the first death from lassa. This is so called because at some point in the disease the patient bleeds. Lassa fever lf is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the lassa virus lasv and endemic in. Lassa fever the guardian nigeria news nigeria and world news.
Lassa fever in the netherlands ex sierra leone ecdc. Molecular diagnostics for lassa fever at irrua specialist. It affects the largest number of people, creating a geographical network of endemic foci encompassing a population of perhaps 180. Lassa fever lf is an endemic west african viral hemorrhagic fever which presents acutely and is often fatal. 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. As part of efforts to contain an outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria that has infected up to 450 people in 17 states within five weeks, the world health organisation who, on tuesday, announced it. Measures to control protracted large lassa fever outbreak.
The nigeria centre for disease control, ncdc, yesterday declared the emergency phase of the 2020 lassa fever outbreak over following successive decline in cases below the emergency threshold, and. Nigeria lassa fever 2 crisis impact a suspected outbreak of lassa viral hemorrhagic fever was announced on 8 january afp 12016. Growing outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria worries. Lassa fever lf is an acute viral haemorrhagic infection, endemic in west africa.
Treatment of lassa fever is free premium times nigeria. It is endemic in some west african countries like benin, ghana, guinea, liberia, mali, sierra leone, and nigeria, where an estimated 300,000 to. 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. The disease has caused over 100 deaths in the past three months across several states. This study assessed the level of knowledge about lf among the health workers in sokoto state and also examined their crossinfection control practices against lf during ongoing outbreaks in health facilities in nigeria. The death toll from the latest round of lassa fever outbreak in nigeria has risen to 144, the nigeria centre for disease control ncdc said thursday with a case fatality rate cfr, of 16. Wondimagegnehu alemu, who representative to nigeria.
Nigeria faces mystifying spike in deadly lassa fever kpbs. Lassa fever lf is an epidemicprone zoonotic disease prevalent in nigeria and ebonyi state is a high burden area in nigeria. Knowledge, perception, lassa fever, outbreak response, communities, health belief model, risk. Epidemiologic and clinical features of lassa fever outbreak. Lassa fever is a viral illness that typically occurs in west africa.
Its case fatality ranges from 535% but rose as high as 60% in the 2016 outbreak in nigeria. The pathogen was identified in 1969 when nurses became infected in lassa, nigeria 7. The two imported cases of lassa fever recently reported from togo. Confirmed and probable cases of lassa fever by epidemiological week in nigeria december 2016 to august 2017. Prevention of lassa fever in nigeria request pdf researchgate. Lassa fever is a viral illness that occurs in west africa. We investigated the knowledge and risk perception of residents towards lf and determined the factors influencing. On 22 january, nigerian public health authorities declared the outbreak and emergency. Pdf hygiene practices in a nigerian rural community. Lassa fever confirmed cases reported in nigeria per million of inhabitants for each state. Although endemic to the west african nation, lassa fever has never reached this case count in nigeria before. The death toll from the latest round of lassa fever outbreak in nigeria has risen to 144, the nigeria centre for disease control ncdc said thursday with a. Molecular diagnostics for lassa fever at irrua specialist teaching hospital, nigeria. Key indicators for current week 2020 and trend compared to previous week, nigeria r k k 0.
Apr 20, 2020 nigerian health officials have declared an outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria. Deadly lassafever outbreak tests nigerias revamped health agency. It is endemic in parts of west africa including sierra leone, liberia, guinea and nigeria. Lassa fever outbreak leaves 43 dead in nigeria cnn. Nigeria battles its largest lassa fever outbreak on record nigerias lassa fever outbreak has reached record highs with 317 laboratory confirmed cases, according to figures released by the nigeria centre for disease control ncdc this week. 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, named for the town in nigeria where it was first discovered in 1969, is a hemorrhagic fever, like ebola. A total of 107 laboratoryconfirmed cases were reported during the first 12 weeks of 2017 and 394 during the same period in 2018. Each year, an estimated 300,000 people are infected, and severe cases can be fatal. Abstract introduction lassa fever is an acute viral zoonotic illness caused by lassa virus, an arena virus known to be responsible for a severe haemorrhagic fever characterized by fever, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and chest and. In its severest form, if it is not treated, the disease can lead to death. Confirmed lassa fever cases by states in nigeria, week 01 11.
Neighboring countries are also at risk, as the animal vector for lassa virus, the multimammate rat mastomys natalensis is distributed throughout the region. Nigeria lassa fever outbreak need for international assistance not required low moderate significant major x very low low moderate significant major expected impact x crisis overview a suspected outbreak of lassa viral hemorrhagic fever was announced in nigeria on 8 january afp 12016. Pdf on jun 1, 2010, deborah u ehichioya and others published lassa fever, nigeria, 20052008 find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Confirmed lassa fever rate per 100,000 population for lgas in nigeria, week 01 20, 2020 table 2. Epidemic curve of confirmed lassa fever cases from epidemiological week 01 to 11, 2020 figure 2. 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. Improved identification of lassa fever cases in nigeria provides the basis for epidemiologic studies of disease and effective disease control. One wonders why borno state is usually home to a lot of things.
We are observing an unusually high number of cases for this time of year. Lassa fever disease lfd is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by lassa virus. Deadly lassafever outbreak tests nigerias revamped health. Three states are reporting 85% of all confirmed cases. Pdf on apr 20, 2016, kehinde charles mofolorunsho and others published outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria. Feb 16, 2018 lassa fever erupts in nigeria a pile of garri, a staple food in nigeria, in a shop in lagos. Development of a therapeutic for lassa fever national. Also, each identified case treated in isolation centers reduces the likelihood of per sontoperson transmission. Weekly trends of lassa fever confirmed cases in nigeria, 20162018. Researchers in nigeria are racing to identify cases of lassa fever and to understand why the ongoing. Constraints in the diagnosis and treatment of lassa fever and the. A growing lassa fever outbreak in nigeria has killed 101 people, as west africa battles to contain a flareup of the virus, according to data from the nations health authorities released saturday. Lassa fever in nigeria watch level 1, practice usual. Lassa fever outbreak update, 24 january 2018 nigeria.
Figure ngthemes common files sitrepsb7cd 08c8047e52ceabb09e5318a3b0a7. Investigation of lassa fever outbreak in kastina state. 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. The nigerian government has released the statement below on the treatment of lassa fever. Lassa fever is endemic and fast becoming hyperendemic in nigeria. Who moves to contain nigerias lassa fever outbreak who. Lassa fever erupts in nigeria a pile of garri, a staple food in nigeria, in a shop in lagos. The lassa virus is carried by the multimammate rat. The rate jumps to 15% for all those who are infected and are hospitalized. Lassa fever outbreak hits nigeria infectioncontrol. Lassa fever is a disease that is spread primarily by rats. Pdf epidemiological trends of lassa fever outbreaks and. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practices toward lassa fever control and prevention among residents of ileife, southwest nigeria. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practices toward lassa fever control and prevention among.
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. In the 2016 2017 season from december 2016december 2017, nigeria reported 1 022 suspected cases and 127 deaths. May 26, 2015 amorosa v, macneil a, mcconnell r, et al. 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. Nigeria field epidemiology and laboratory training programme prevalence of risk factors for lassa fever infection in nasarawa state, jan 20 risk factors prevalence 95% ci presence of rats in the house or immediate surroundings 95.
Lassa fever in the eastern province of sierra leone, 19701972. Lassa fever is spread through direct contact with the. Knowledge attitude and practices toward lassa fever control. Low risk perceptions have been reported to prevent appropriate preventive behaviours. Data collected in two years of operation demonstrate that lassa fever is a serious public health problem in edo state and reveal new insights into the disease in hospitalized patients. 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. Epicurve of lassa fever confirmed 437 and probable 10 cases in nigeria week 1 23, 2018 figure 4. The illness was discovered in lassa, borno state where it was first reported. Lassa fever is a viral, hemorrhagic causes bleeding disease found in tropical regions of africa. Deadly lassafever outbreak tests nigerias revamped. Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by lassa virus, a member of the virus family arenaviridae. 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. Knowledge and risk perception towards lassa fever infection. Lassa fever was first documented in nigeria, in lassa village of borno state.
Nigeria battles its largest lassa fever outbreak on record. Knowledge and risk perception towards lassa fever infection among. Although lassa fever is endemic in nigeria, the current outbreaks in the. A report by the nigeria center for disease control ncdc on march 4 indicated a mortality rate of 23. Seroprevalence and risk factors of lassa fever infection in. Lassa fever clinical course and setting a standard of care for future.
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