Clinical Updates
4 May 2007
Lassa fever in Liberia
During April 2007 there have been media reports of cases of Lassa fever in Liberia. Cases have been reported from Nimba, Bong and Lofa [1]. Lassa fever is endemic to Liberia, and an outbreak was last reported by the media during September 2006 [2, 3]. Previous to that, between January and June 2006, the Liberian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had reported one to five cases per month [4].
Lassa fever is also endemic in Guinea, Sierra Leone and parts of Nigeria and may occur in other countries in West Africa [5]. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has recently published risk maps for Lassa fever in Liberia and other countries in the region [6].
Advice for travellers
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family. It is most commonly transmitted to humans following contamination of broken skin or mucous membranes with the urine or droppings of rats that live around homes in rural areas of tropical Africa. Person to person transmission can occur after contact with bodily fluids of persons who have Lassa fever.
There is no vaccine available to protect against Lassa fever. The risk of Lassa fever in tourists is extremely low; only six cases have been imported into the UK since 1980, with no onward transmission. These cases have been in high risk individuals such as those working in the medical or aid sectors [7]. Travellers to endemic countries should avoid contact with rodents and use personal protection measures when caring for persons suspected to have Lassa fever.
References
1. ProMED-Mail. Lassa fever – Liberia (02): Confirmed, 13 April 2007. [Accessed 1 May 2007]. Available at: http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:7321320
386703696423::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001
2. ProMED-Mail. Lassa fever – Liberia (02), 1 October 2006. [Accessed 1 May 2007]. Available at: http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1202:9133191
36312390380::NO::F2400_P1202_CHECK_DISPLAY,F2400_P1
3. ProMED-Mail. Lassa fever – Liberia: Request for Information, 29 September 2006. [Accessed 1 May 2007]. Available at: http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:9133191
36312390380::::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_AR
CHIVE_NUMBER,F2400_P1001_USE_ARCHIVE:1202,2006092
4. Republic of Liberia, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Weekly surveillance activities report, 26 June – 2 July 2006. [Accessed 1 May 2007]. Available at: http://www.who.int/hac/crises/lbr/sitreps/Liberia_weekly_report_
5. World Health Organisation. Lassa Fever Fact Sheet, April 2005. [Accessed 1 May 2007]. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs179/en/
6. Health Protection Agency. Lassa Fever, 2 January 2007. [Accessed 1 May 2007]. Available at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAuto
ListName/Page/1199451966789?p=1199451966789
7. Health Protection Agency. Lassa fever – Fact sheet for health professionals, 2 January 2007. [Accessed 1 May 2007]. Available at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&
Disclaimer | Copyright | Privacy | Sitemap | Accessibility