Lassa fever lf is an epidemicprone zoonotic viral haemorrhagic disease caused by lassa fever virus lfv, a member of the arenaviridae family 1. Diagnostic proficiency and reporting of lassa fever by. The lassa fever is a member of are naviridiae virus family like ebola. Nigeria lassa fever 2 crisis impact a suspected outbreak of lassa viral hemorrhagic fever was announced on 8 january afp 12016. The study assessed the knowledge and sources of information on lassa fever infection among the undergraduate students of ebonyi state university, nigeria.
Lassa fever death rates in nigeria higher than expected cnn. Nigeria struggles with largest recorded lassa fever. E and covering an estimated area of 10 000 km 2, with a projected population of one million people by 2002 at 3. The doctors, working at the federal medical centre in yola, adamawa state, experienced symptoms of a viral. Lassa fever lf is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the lassa. Nigeria struggles with largest recorded lassa fever outbreak. Pdf lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic fever, extremely virulent and often infectious, occurs very frequently in different parts of nigeria. Pdf epidemiological trends of lassa fever outbreaks and.
Symptoms of lassa fever typically occur 221 days after coming into contact with the virus. Lassa fever in nigeria asian journal of research and. Introduction lassa fever, also known as lassa haemorrhagic fever lhf, is an acute viral. To estimate the burden of lassa fever in northern and central edo, a state in south nigeria where lassa fever has been reported. Disease control ncdc has said that these statistics should not mask the progress made in the control of lassa fever in.
Lassa fever lf is an epidemicprone zoonotic disease prevalent in nigeria and ebonyi state is a high burden area in nigeria. Lassa fever is an acute, virulent viral haemorrhagic illness with high morbidity and mortality rates. Lesson learned from the investigation and response of. Lassa fever lf is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the lassa virus lasv and endemic in west african countries with an estimation of 300,000 to 500,000 cases and 5,000 deaths annually. In nigeria lassa fever outbreaks occur almost every year in different parts of the country, with yearly peaks observed between december and february who, 2016. Pdf earlyonset sensorineural hearing loss in lassa fever. Mar 18, 2020 nigeria is under pressure to declare a national health emergency as it endeavors to contain its largest recorded outbreak of lassa fever, which has killed 161 people this year. When symptoms occur they typically include fever, weakness, headaches, vomiting, and muscle pains. Lassa fever is endemic in many parts of west africa particularly guinea, liberia, nigeria and sierra leone and usually causes seasonal outbreaks roughly between november and may 4. Lassa fever, viral haemorrhagic fever, rats, knowledge, sources of information, media, ilorin, nigeria. Lassa virus belongs to the old world complex of the family arenaviridae. Studies conducted in places around the country have shown that knowledge of the disease is lacking among many and inadequate amongst quite a. Epidemiologic and clinical features of lassa fever outbreak in. The lassa virus is transmitted to humans mainly through handling rats, food or house.
Containing a lassa fever epidemic in a resourcelimited. Yearly peaks are observed between december and february. Metagenomic sequencing at the epicenter of the nigeria. Lf is endemic in nigeria, liberia, sierra leone, benin, ghana, guinea and mali. Lassa fever, lassa virus, nigeria, outbreak, epidemiology.
Prevention of lassa fever in nigeria transactions of the. The disease is endemic in sierra leone, guinea, liberia, and nigeria 3,6. The lassa fever virus lfv was named after the town where the first cases occurred. Less commonly there may be bleeding from the mouth or gastrointestinal tract. Neighboring countries are also at risk, as the animal vector for lassa virus, the multimammate rat mastomys natalensis is distributed throughout the region.
In this article, we report an analysis of the epidemiologic and clinical aspects of the lf outbreak that occurred in nigeria during january 1may 6, 2018. Lesson learned from the investigation and response of lassa. Lassa fever is endemic in parts of west africa including sierra leone, liberia, guinea and nigeria. Lassa virus, named after the town in nigeria where the first cases originated. Yinkaogunleye a, ipadeola o, saleh m, ilori e, dannwafor c, nwachukwu w, et al. The establishment of diagnostic facilities that can provide rapid molecular testing at referral centers in the diseaseendemic zones has. Lassa fever is a significant cause of death and disease in. Jan 18, 2019 lassa fever is a serious public health issue in nigeria. Molecular diagnostics for lassa fever at irrua specialist. In the first eight weeks of 2021, the number of deaths reached 31. The virus can spread between people through direct contact with the body fluids of a person infected with lassa fever, as well as contaminated bedding and clothing. However, it seems that mass media activities have been only partially successful because they ignore essential information relating to the epidemic. Mortality among confirmed lassa fever cases during the 2015.
Abdulsalami nasidi is with the nigeria center for disease prevention and control, abuja. Low risk perceptions have been reported to prevent appropriate preventive behaviours. Mar 05, 2021 as of february 2021, there were in nigeria 6 confirmed cases of lassa fever and 959 suspected cases. In nigeria, as of 17 may 2016, 8 states are currently reporting lassa fever cases suspected, probable, and confirmed, deaths andor following of contacts for the maximum 21day incubation period. Johnson km, mccormick jb, webb pa, smith es, elliot lh, 11.
It is endemic in parts of west africa including sierra leone, liberia, guinea and nigeria. Epidemiologic and clinical features of lassa fever outbreak. Knowledge and risk perception towards lassa fever infection. Late rainy and early dry season affects all age groups and both sexes. 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. The virus was first described in 1969 from a case in the town of lassa, in borno state, nigeria. Rodents, particularly mastomys natalensis, are considered the natural hosts of the virus 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. Lassa fever is a hemorrhagic illness caused by lassa virus. The mass media can play a positive role in combating lassa fever and its attendant fatality in nigeria. Mar 19, 2021 an update of lassa fever outbreak in nigeria for week 45. Lassa fever is endemic in parts of west africa including sierra leone, liberia and nigeria 10. Awareness of lassa fever in a rural community in south west.
This study was carried out to assess the awareness of lassa fever of a rural community in the south western part of nigeria. Epidemiologic and clinical features of lassa fever. Jun 25, 2019 lassa fever lf, one of the severe viral hemorrhagic fevers vhf, was first reported from nigeria in 1969 1. Increase the national capacity to detect and confirm lassa fever infection rapidly 4. Distribution of confirmed and probable lassa fever cases in nigeria as at august 2017. May 18, 2012 objectives to estimate the burden of lassa fever in northern and central edo, a state in south nigeria where lassa fever has been reported methods blood samples were obtained from 60 patients hospitalised at the irrua specialist teaching hospital isth, irrua, with a clinical suspicion of lassa fever and from 451 febrile outpatients seen at the isth and hospitals in ekpoma, iruekpen, uromi. Another area with a strong increase in case numbers in. The disease was first described in nigeria in 1969 1.
Feb 12, 2020 background lassa fever lf is an epidemicprone zoonotic disease prevalent in nigeria and ebonyi state is a high burden area in nigeria. Lassa fever lf is endemic to nigeria, where the disease causes substantial rates of illness and death. Lassa fever lf is a febrile infectious disease caused by lassa virus. Resultsamong 34 patients with lassa fever, including 20 patients, six nurses, two surgeons, one physician, and the son of a patient, there were 22 deaths 65. Since then, there have been repeated outbreaks in nigeria 2 and other west african countries 3, 4, particularly sierra leone 5 and liberia 6 but also togo 4, and the republic of benin 4. It is endemic in guinea, sierra leone, liberia, and parts of nigeria, and also in other countries in the west african subregion. Strengthen lassa fever case management and infection prevention and control in health facilities in priority areas, including safe burials 6. 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. Although treatment is available for lassa fever, early diagnosis is still difficult in almost all nigerian health care institutions. Nigeria has only two laboratories where lassa fever can be definitively diagnosed. Caseload and case fatality of lassa fever in nigeria, 2001. The margibi county health team of liberia received a report of an unidentified febrile illness case from the kakata district.
Lassa fever in the eastern province of sierra leone, 19701972. It is endemic in the west african countries of sierra leone, guinea, liberia, and nigeria 2,3 and references therein. Mortality among confirmed lassa fever cases during the 20152016 outbreak in nigeria, american journal of public health 108, no. Its is endemic in areas of west africa including nigeria, liberia, sierra leone and guinea. Cases of lassa fever imported to europe indicate that the virus also circulates in ivory coast and mali 2,9. The illness was discovered in 1969 when two missionary nurses died of it in nigeria. Lassa fever is one of the hemorrhagic fever viruses, occurring in west africa subregions in similar areas as ebola virus. Strengthen lassa fever case management and infection prevention and control.
Lassa fever had been reported as a cause of death especially in endemic parts of nigeria. Mar 17, 2016 a 2012 outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria caused more than 1,700 people to become infected, but 112 deaths, according to the nigerian center for disease control ncdc. An update of lassa fever outbreak in nigeria for week 42. It is an acute, highly infectious zoonotic disease whose public health. Annual incidence of 100,000 to 300,000 with approximately 5,000 deaths in west africa. Lassa fever was first recognized in lassa, nigeria, in 1969 and is endemic to west africa.
An update of lassa fever outbreak in nigeria for week 45. Lassa fever is an animalborne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness. Jan 21, 2020 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. Pdf the pattern of lassa fever outbreaks in nigeria over the years is worrisome and increasingly becoming more challenging with frequent. Apr 07, 2011 nigerian physicians hit by lassa fever a physician at a medical center in nigeria recently died of lassa fever, and two other physicians from the same center are being treated for the disease, the nigerian tribune reported today. Jul 04, 2020 this acute viral hemorrhagic fever brought about by the lassa infection which was first described in 1969 and named after the town of lassa yedseram river valley, in borno state, nigeria. Confirmed and probable cases of lassa fever by epidemiological week in nigeria december 2016 to august 2017. 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. It was first discovered in 1969 in lassa, nigeria when two missionary nurses died. Lassa fever is relatively common in west africa including the countries of nigeria, liberia, sierra leone, guinea, and ghana. First described from nigeria in 1969 1, lassa fever lf is not new here but continues to manifest in epidemic proportions and as endemic or sporadic. Many of those infected by the virus do not develop symptoms.
Lassa fever is endemic in nigeria with outbreaks almost every year in different parts of the country. Laboratory diagnosis of lassa fever journal of clinical. Mastomys natalensis, a multimammate, peridomestic rat is the reservoir. Lassa fever outbreak continues across nigeria ncbi nih. Peter nsubuga is with global public health solutions, atlanta, ga.
Hospitalbased surveillance for lassa fever in edo state. Failure of the nigerian health system to prioritise preparedness activities has been detrimental for prompt control of lassa fever, which requires robust laboratory. Pdf on nov 1, 2005, sunday aremu omilabu and others published lassa fever, nigeria, 2003 and 2004 find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Assessment of knowledge and sources of information on lassa. The lassa virus is transmitted to humans mainly through handling rats, food or household items contaminated by rats urine and faeces. Lassa fever lf is endemic to nigeria, where the disease causes substantial rates of. Lassa fever estimated number of deaths lassa fever is caused by a virus that is found in west africa. Cases imported to europe indicate that lassa fever also occurs in co. Fatality, lassa fever, mass media, nigeria, outbreak, reportage date received.
Lassa fever lf is increasingly recognised as an important rodentborne viral haemorrhagic fever presenting a severe public health threat to subsaharan west africa. In january 2018, the alliance for international medication. Blood samples were obtained from 60 patients hospitalised at the irrua specialist teaching hospital isth, irrua, with a clinical suspicion of lassa fever and from 451 febrile outpatients seen at the isth and hospitals in ekpoma, iruekpen, uromi. In nigeria, between august 2015 and 17 may 2016 there have been 273 cases of lassa fever, including 149deaths in 23 states. Mass media reportage of the authors 2019 lassa fever in. Increase the capacity for isolation and treatment of suspected and confirmed cases 5. From jan 1, 2020 through apr 5, 2020, the nigeria center for disease control ncdc reported 963 laboratoryconfirmed cases of lassa fever.
Lassa fever is an acute viral illness that occurs in west africa. Lassa fever frequently infects people in west africa with about 80% being asymptomatic, studies show up to 300, 000 500, 000 cases annually and causes about 5,000 deaths. By the same stage of 2017, the country had reported fewer than 200 cases. Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease characterized by acute viral hemorrhagic fever, endemic in west africa including nigeria. We investigated the knowledge and risk perception of residents towards lf and determined the factors influencing their risk perception in communities that have reported. Lassa fever is one of the endemic zoonosis in nigeria with a high probability for nosocomial transmission due to several health care sector challenges. Awareness of lassa fever in a rural community in south. In 201718, lf caused an unprecedented epidemic in nigeria and the situation was worsening in 201819. Lassa fever cases have increased in nigeria since 2016 with the highest. Jan 01, 2010 lassa fever is common in edo central district of the midwestern region of nigeria, located between latitude 0544. Pdf current molecular epidemiology of lassa virus in. It is a very unusual situation, said wondimagegnehu alemu, who representative in nigeria. Lassa fever is a viral illness that typically occurs in west africa. 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.
Pdf earlyonset sensorineural hearing loss in lassa. Lassa fever is endemic in regions of west africa, including guinea, liberia, nigeria, and sierra leone, but cases have been exported to other. The animal reservoir is the rodent multimammate rat mastomys natalensis. There are about 300,000 to 500,000 cases which result in 5,000 deaths a year. Increase in lassa fever cases in nigeria, januarymarch 2018. Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever that was first described in 1969 in the town of lassa in the northeast of nigeria 1. Background lassa fever lf is a zoonotic acute viral illness mainly found in west africa. Progress and challenges of lassa fever control in nigeria. Lassa fever expert oyewale tomori formerly of redeemers university, ogun state, nigeria described. Pdf on jan 1, 2017, jimoh mohammed saka and others published lassa fever epidemic in nigeria outbreak investigation, risk factors and empirical analysis from 2012 to 2016 find, read and cite.
Lassa fever is mainly found in sierra leone, liberia, guinea, and nigeria and is spread by rats. On 14 january, nigeria s centre for disease control reported at least 140 suspected cases, of which 30 were laboratory confirmed. An update of lassa fever outbreak in nigeria for week 43. Lassa virus, an arenavirus first isolated in 1969 in jos, nigeria, is the cause of lassa fever, an acute viral illness that affects 100,000 to 300,000 persons per year based on 1970s estimates. Its awareness remain low in sub urban or rural community. The disease is mainly spread to humans through contamination with the urine or feces of infected rats 3, 4.
Progress and challenges of lassa fever control in nigeria the lancet. Assessment of knowledge and sources of information on. Lassa fever, also known as lassa hemorrhagic fever lhf, is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the lassa virus. Introduction lassa fever lf is an epidemicprone zoonotic viral haemorrhagic disease caused by lassa fever virus lfv, a member of the arenaviridae family. As is the case for many viral haemo rrhagic fevers, healthcare workers have been disproportionately affected. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practices.
Review of cases of nosocomial lassa fever in nigeria. Nigeria records 230 lassa fever cases, 49 deaths in 3. The lassa virus is transmitted to humans mainly through. An update of lassa fever outbreak in nigeria for week 44.
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