When a beninese migrant worker fell ill in nigeria in december 2017, he decided to return to his parents home in togo for care. Lassa fever is known to be endemic in benin, guinea, ghana, liberia, mali, sierra leone and nigeria, but may exist in other west african countries. Frank is an epidemiologist at the robert koch institute in berlin, germany. This is so called because at some point in the disease the patient bleeds. The disease is highly contagious and spread like wild fire. 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.
However, only 11 32% lasv infections were confirmed by rtpcr. Feb 06, 20 lassa fever lf is an acute and sometimes severe viral hemorrhagic illness endemic in west africa. Confirmed lassa fever rate per 100,000 population for lgas in nigeria. Lassa fever lf is an epidemicprone zoonotic viral haemorrhagic disease caused by lassa fever virus lfv, a member of the arenaviridae family 1. An outbreak of lassa fever occurred in nigeria during 2018 and spread to 18 of the countrys states. Lassa mammarenavirus lasv is an arenavirus that causes lassa hemorrhagic fever, a type of viral hemorrhagic fever vhf, in humans and other primates. 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. On 14 january, nigerias centre for disease control reported at least 140 suspected cases, of. As of february 18, the nigeria centre for disease control ncdc reports 9 cases of lassa fever and 73 deaths. Panic as luth confirms lassa fever outbreak in lagos the.
Benin was last affected by lassa fever over a 4 monthperiod in 20142015 when 16 cases were reported and 9 people died. 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. Lassa fever is reported in benin, cote divoire, ghana, guinea, liberia, mali, nigeria, sierra leone and togo. Lassa fever erupts in nigeria a pile of garri, a staple food in nigeria, in a shop in lagos. The world health organisation who says that with declining numbers and only a handful of confirmed cases reported in recent weeks, the. Fever is a cardinal presenting feature among the myriad manifestations of lf.
Progress and challenges of lassa fever control in nigeria the lancet. Some studies indicate that 300,000 to 500,000 cases of lassa fever and 5000 deaths occur yearly across west africa. Lassa fever in nigeria watch level 1, practice usual. The high number of lassa fever cases is concerning. Knowledge and risk perception towards lassa fever infection. Humans contract lassa virus lasv primarily through contact with contaminated excreta of the rodent. Epidemiological trends of lassa fever outbreaks and insights for future control in nigeria article pdf available january 2017 with 2,184 reads how we measure reads. Lassa fever lf outbreaks in nigeria mostly occur in rural areas and during the dry season, peaking between december through february. Lassa mammarenavirus is an emerging virus and a select agent, requiring biosafety level 4equivalent containment.
Although nigeria is a lassa fever endemic country and has developed capacity for managing lassa fever outbreaks, the current overall risk is considered moderate at national level. Lassa fever has claimed 110 lives in nigeria since the beginning of the year one of the worst outbreaks since 2016. Pdf epidemiological trends of lassa fever outbreaks and. A historical look at the first reported cases of lassa.
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 illness was discovered in 1969 when two missionary nurses died in nigeria. May 26, 2015 amorosa v, macneil a, mcconnell r, et al. 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. 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.
Lassa fever outbreak leaves 43 dead in nigeria cnn. Feb 16, 2018 lassa fever erupts in nigeria a pile of garri, a staple food in nigeria, in a shop in lagos. It is endemic in west african countries, especially sierra leone, the republic of guinea, nigeria, and liberia, where the annual. Adekunle olatayo adeoti1, onyekachi ojiaku2 and louise sigfrid3 1department of medicine, ekiti state university teaching hospital, ado ekiti, nigeria 2department of medicine, ekiti state university teaching hospital, ado ekiti, nigeria 3clinical research fellow and public health specialist, university of oxford, united kingdom. The lassa fever outbreak in west africa continues to gather momentum. Is an acute and often fatal viral disease, with fever, occurring mainly in west africa. The virus is named after the town in nigeria where the first cases occurred. Apr 28, 2018 we evaluated the impact of manmade conflict events and climate change impact in guiding evidencebased community one health epidemiology and emergency response practice against reemerging epidemics. Lassa fever causes, symptoms, treatment, diagnosis.
Lassa fever outbreak update, 24 january 2018 nigeria. Increasing evidence of emerging and reemerging zoonotic diseases including recent lassa fever outbreaks in almost 20 states in nigeria led to 101 deaths and 175 suspected and. Lassa fever clinical course and setting a standard of care. In its severest form, if it is not treated, the disease can lead to death. In 201718, lf caused an unprecedented epidemic in nigeria and the situation was worsening in 201819. Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic illness, is endemic in most of west africa, especially nigeria, where it was discovered in 1969. Increase the national capacity to detect and confirm lassa fever infection rapidly 4. 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. Confirmed lassa fever rate per 100,000 population for lgas in nigeria, week 01 19, 2020 table 2. 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. 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.
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 was first documented in nigeria, in lassa village of borno state. The virus is excreted in urine for 3 9 weeks after infection and in semen for 3 months. We evaluated the impact of manmade conflict events and climate change impact in guiding evidencebased community one health epidemiology and emergency response practice against reemerging epidemics. Promed reported on february 2016 that nigeria has recorded 176 cases with 108 deaths a case fatality rate of 61 percent.
The disease was first recognized in nigeria in 1969. Lassa fever is endemic in parts of west africa including sierra leone, liberia, guinea and nigeria. It can be transmitted to humans through direct or indirect exposure to rodent excreta, including droplets, dust and contaminated food. A recordhigh lassa fever outbreak strikes nigeria the. Molecular diagnostics for lassa fever at irrua specialist teaching hospital, nigeria. The nigerian government has released the statement below on the treatment of lassa fever.
Lassa fever lf is an acute and sometimes severe viral hemorrhagic illness endemic in west africa. Lassa fever lf is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the lassa virus lasv and endemic in. Nigeria battles its largest lassa fever outbreak on record. Who moves to contain nigerias lassa fever outbreak who. Confirmed lassa fever cases by states in nigeria, week 01 19, 2020. May 11, 2018 the world health organisation who says that with declining numbers and only a handful of confirmed cases reported in recent weeks, the critical phase of nigerias largest lassa fever outbreak. Sequel to the successful containment of ebola outbreak by the nigerian government in 2014 and the wider appraisal by the international. A historical look at the first reported cases of lassa fever.
On 14 january, nigerias centre for disease control reported at least 140 suspected cases, of which 30 were laboratory confirmed. Failure of the nigerian health system to prioritise preparedness activities has been detrimental for prompt control of lassa fever, which requires robust laboratory. Lassa fever outbreak hits nigeria infectioncontrol. Strengthen lassa fever case management and infection prevention and control in health facilities in priority areas, including safe burials 6. The two imported cases of lassa fever recently reported from togo. Introduction to lassa fever world health organization. Apr 20, 2020 nigerian health officials have declared an outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria. The country is fighting an outbreak of lassa virus, which is transmitted in rodent feces and urine and. Lassa fever is a viral illness that occurs in west africa. 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 is endemic in west africa and has been reported from sierra leone, guinea, liberia, and nigeria. Lf is endemic in nigeria, liberia, sierra leone, benin, ghana, guinea and mali. Here we will discus the history of lassa fever in nigeria, recent outbreaks, symptoms, states affected, causes, treatment options, prevention and control.
Lesson learned from the investigation and response of lassa fever. Request pdf prevention of lassa fever in nigeria although specific treatment is available for lassa fever, early diagnosis is still difficult in most nigerian. Treatment of lassa fever is free premium times nigeria. Nigeria had an ongoing lassa fever outbreak that had peaked in october 2017. Low risk perceptions have been reported to prevent appropriate preventive behaviours. Increase the capacity for isolation and treatment of suspected and confirmed cases 5. Who moves to contain nigerias lassa fever outbreak nigeria. Apr 29, 2019 nigeria had an ongoing lassa fever outbreak that had peaked in october 2017. The disease has caused over 100 deaths in the past three months across several states. Apr 29, 2019 tracking lassa fever across three countries.
Of the total, 78 cases have been confirmed, amongst which 49 have died 63%. Studies reported in english, that investigated lassa fever with reference to west africa were. 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 virus was first isolated in 1974 from its zoonotic reservoir, the multimammate rat mastomys natalensis. The lassa virus is carried by the multimammate rat. Nigerian health officials have declared an outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria. In this post, we will look at lassa fever in nigeria. 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. The animal reservoir of the lassa fever virus is a rat, mastomys natalensis. Lassa fevers mildness, and its long incubation time of one to three weeks, also means that it travels easily.
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. Containing current lassa fever outbreaks in nigeria the. Lassa fever lf is an epidemicprone zoonotic disease prevalent in nigeria and ebonyi state is a high burden area in nigeria. From the onset of the outbreak, who nigeria deployed staff from the national and state levels to support the government of nigerias national lassa fever emergency operations. Lassa fever lf is increasingly recognised as an important rodentborne viral haemorrhagic fever presenting a severe public health threat to subsaharan west africa. Wondimagegnehu alemu, who representative to nigeria. Lassa fever is an acute viral illness that occurs in west africa.
Pdf knowledge, attitude and infection prevention and. Although endemic to the west african nation, lassa fever has never reached this case count in nigeria before. His condition deteriorated during his trip through benin. Nigeria lassa fever 2 crisis impact a suspected outbreak of lassa viral hemorrhagic fever was announced on 8 january afp 12016. Lassa fever is an acute illness caused by a negativestrand of rna ribonucleic acid virus in the family arenaviridae. Lassa fever is endemic in many west african countries and shares some characteristics with ebola.
Symptoms can be mild or severe, including hemorrhaging in. Growing outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria worries. Lassa fever in nigeria, benin, togo, germany and usa reliefweb. Lassa fever full recovery without ribavarin treatment. 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. Thats compared with 733 cases and 71 deaths in all of 2017.
Lassa fever 2016 outbreak in plateau state, nigeriathe. Neighboring countries are also at risk, as the animal vector for lassa virus, the multimammate rat mastomys natalensis is distributed throughout the region. Who moves to contain nigerias lassa fever outbreak. The first human cases of lassa fever lf were described in 1970 in the northeast of nigeria.
Lassa fever is a disease that is spread primarily by rats. 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. Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease that commonly manifests as an acute viral hemorrhagic fever. Lassa fever lf is an epidemicprone zoonotic viral haemorrhagic disease caused by lassa fever virus lfv, a member of the arenaviridae family. It has also been reported in europe and north america. Increasing evidence of emerging and reemerging zoonotic diseases including recent lassa fever outbreaks in almost 20 states in nigeria led to 101 deaths and 175 suspected and confirmed. Prevention of lassa fever in nigeria request pdf researchgate. Lf is endemic in nigeria, liberia, sierra leone, benin, ghana, guinea and mali 1. One wonders why borno state is usually home to a lot of things. Lassa fever is spread through direct contact with the. The illness was discovered in lassa, borno state where it was first reported. Key indicators for current week 2020 and trend compared to previous week, nigeria. Lassa fever is an animalborne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness.
About 10 days after the man died, benin declared a lassa fever outbreak with 21 cases, including four deaths. It is endemic in west african countries, especially sierra leone, the republic of guinea, nigeria, and liberia, where the annual incidence of infection is between 300,000 and 500,000 cases, resulting in 5,000 deaths per year. Travelers to nigeria should avoid contact with rats, especially rat urine and feces, and keep their accommodations or campsites clean. Volume 16, number 6june 2010 letter lassa fever, nigeria, 20052008. Tracking lassa fever across three countries blogs cdc. Abuja, nigeria, 28 february 2018 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. Nigeria tries to contain deadly lassa fever outbreak youtube. Confirmed and probable cases of lassa fever by epidemiological week in nigeria december 2016 to august 2017. It was first described in northeastern nigeria in 1969, and it is endemic in west africa 1. Mastomys natalensis, a multimammate, peridomestic rat is the reservoir. People feel bad for a few days, not horrible, so theyre more likely to get on. Thirty four patients with clinical diagnosis of lf were analyzed. We are observing an unusually high number of cases for this time of year.
Ilori is the national lassa fever technical working group team lead at the nigeria centre for disease control in abuja, nigeria. Benin was last affected by lassa fever over a 4 monthperiod in 20142015 when 16. Of the cases reported so far in the nigerian outbreak, the mortality rate is 43. She coordinates the lassa fever response activities and production of various guidelines for lassa fever control in nigeria. Lassa fever, nigeria, 20052008 volume 16, number 6june. 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. Distribution of confirmed and probable lassa fever cases in nigeria as at august 2017. 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.