Knowledge, attitude and infection prevention and control practices regarding lassa fever among healthcare workers in edo state, nigeria article pdf available april 2019 with 775 reads. Casepatient 4, a pregnant nurse, had a spontaneous abortion and died on day 9 of hospitalization. Lassa fever is endemic to several other west african countries, including benin, ghana, guinea, liberia, mali, and sierra leone, and probably exists in other west african countries as well. A communitybased descriptive crosssectional study was conducted in six affected local. At the time of the confirmation of lassa fever, the patients clinical state had substantially improved.
Mathematical model of the transmission dynamics of lassa. The mass media encompasses print and nonprint methods of disseminating information including magazines, newspapers, radio, and television to a large. Lassa fever list of high impact articles ppts journals. 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. Original article awareness of lassa fever in a rural community in south west nigeria olayinka stephen ilesanmi1, 2, bridget omotoso2, faith osaretin alele1, peter adewuyi2 1 department of community health, federal medical centre, owo, ondo state, nigeria 2 nigeria field epidemiology and laboratory training programme, abuja nigeria. Laboratoryconfirmed cases have increased from 106 in 2016 to 143 in 2017 and had already. Lassa fever lf is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by lassa virus genus arenavirus. Empirical treatment for presumed malaria or bacterial infection is often trialed, and lassa fever is only suspected when a patient fails to improve with antimalarial and antibiotic therapy. It is caused by the lassa fever virus, a single stranded rna virus belonging to the arenaviridae family 7, 8. Lassa fever, nigeria, 20052008 volume 16, number 6june.
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. An imported case of lassa fever with late appearance of polyserositis yoshihiro hirabayashi please address requests for reprints to dr. However the classical modes of presentation include high grade fever 38c, sore throat, retrosternal pain, cough, odynophagia, conjunctivitis, petechial hemorrhages, abdominal pains, vomiting and diarrohea. The most useful clinical predictors of lassa fever are fever, pharyngitis, retrosternal pain, and proteinuria for diagnosis. Lassa virus is one of more than 25 causative viruses of viral hemorrhagic fever table 4. Lassa fever in nigeria watch level 1, practice usual. Lassa fever has been a public health concern in the west african subregion where it is endemic and a latent threat to the world at large.
Lassa antibody and antigen were found in 96 11% and 46 5%, respectively, of 884 tested mastomys demby et al. Assessment of knowledge and attitude towards lassa fever. Acute sensorineural deafness in lassa fever jama network. Current molecular epidemiology of lassa virus in nigeria. The lassa fever outbreak in ondo state in 2018 recorded high morbidity and mortality. Sensitivity analysis of lassa fever model ea journals. The natural host of lassa virus is the african rodent mastomys natalensis, which lives close to.
Pdf the pattern of lassa fever outbreaks in nigeria over the years is worrisome and. Lassa fever, a new virus disease of man from west africa. Health workers may be infected by direct contact with blood, body fluids, urine, or stool of a patient with lassa fever. Lassa fever lf is endemic to nigeria, where the disease causes substantial rates of illness and death. Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic disease, is found mostly in west africa.
The illness was discovered in lassa, borno state where it was first reported. The report by mcelroy and colleagues in this issue of the journal of infectious diseases provides an alternative strategy to advance the science of lassa fever and the care of infected patients. Lassa virus, the causative agent of lassa fever, is a member of the family arenaviridae. Seeing the terms viral haemorrhagic fever and west. Keep your home clean and tidy to discourage rats from entering 4. Pdf knowledge, attitude and infection prevention and. Lassa virus belongs to the old world complex of the family arenaviridae. Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever prevalent in west africa that has been gaining international attention as an emerging infectious disease with the potential to cause epidemics 1 1.
Most of the participants knew correctly that lassa fever can affect all age groups 91. If r eff lassa fever can be controlled and eradicated within the population in a finite time and if the, the disease invade and become endemic in the population. Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever first described in 1969 in the town of lassa in borno state, nigeria. The disease is endemic in sierra leone, guinea, liberia, and nigeria 3, 6. The disease was first described in the 1950s, and the virus was. Early diagnosis of lassa fever by reverse transcriptionpcr. The federal and state governments in nigeria are enhancing disease surveillance for early detection, reinforcing treatment of patients, and conducting awareness campaigns among the affected population. Pathophysiology and treatment of lassa fever springerlink. The mode of presentation of lassa fever can be nonspecific and hence the difficulty in clinical diagnosis of some cases. Lassa virus lasv, the causative agent of lassa fever, is estimated to be responsible for up to 300,000 new infections and 5000 deaths each year across western africa. Lassa virus causes lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic fever vhf. The most recent 2018 and 2019 nigerian outbreaks featured alarmingly high fatality rates of up to 25. 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. We found the best predictor of lassa fever to be the combination of fever, pharyngitis, retrosternal pain, and proteinuria predictive value together.
Estimating the true incidence and mortality of lf is extremely difficult due to the nonspecific clinical presentation. Pathogens free fulltext animal models of lassa fever. Such infections are often asymptomatic, but in those who become ill, the disease can range from an uncomplicated fever of unknown origin to a fulminating hemorrhagic disease. Lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic fever, extremely virulent and often infectious, occurs. Lassa fever disease lassa fever is viral illness that occurs in west africa. The natural reservoir of the lassa virus is multimammate rat species known as mastomys. In 201718, lf caused an unprecedented epidemic in nigeria and the situation was worsening in 201819.
We investigated the trend in lassa fever research using bibliometric approach. Lassa fever accounts for an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 cases and 5000 deaths yearly in west africa, particularly in sierra leone, nigeria, liberia and r epublic of guinea. Hand gloves were stated as the most useful personal protective gear when dealing with a patient with lassa fever. Pdf epidemiological trends of lassa fever outbreaks and. Pdf current molecular epidemiology of lassa virus in. First described in 1969 in the town of lassa, in borno state, nigeria. The initial symptoms of lassa fever are nonspecific and may include fever, malaise, headache, sore throat, myalgia, cough, chest pain, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea 4, 8, 9. Vertical transmission from mother to child has been. Six cynomolgus monkeys were experimentally infected with lasv. 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. It is symptomatic and usually characterized by fever, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, abdominal and chest pains. Awareness of lassa fever in a rural community in south. Lassa virus remains an important cause of illness in west africa and among the travelers returning from this region with an acute febrile illness. Lassa fever awareness and knowledge among community.
Cases of lassa fever imported to europe indicate that the virus also circulates in ivory coast and mali 2, 9. International journal of mathematics and statistics studies vol. A prospective audiometric evaluation of 69 hospitalized febrile patients in sierra leone, west africa, revealed a sensorineural hearing deficit snhd in 14 29% of 49 confirmed cases of lassa fever and in 0 of 20 febrile controls. Lassa fever is an animalborne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness. Lassa virus lasv infection causes an acute and sometimes fatal hemorrhagic disease in humans and nonhuman primates. The lassa virus is transmitted to humans mainly through handling rats, food or household items contaminated by rats urine and faeces.
Evidence shows that an outbreak of lassa fever recently occurred in nigeria, involving many states and fatalities. By the same stage of 2017, the country had reported fewer than 200 cases. Frontiers caseload and case fatality of lassa fever in. Pathogenesis of lassa fever in cynomolgus macaques virology. It is a viral haemorrhagic fever in the same family as ebola. The casefatality ratio for 441 hospitalized patients was 16. Endemic in west africa, lf is characterized by fever, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mucosal bleeding. Lassa fever lf is increasingly recognised as an important rodentborne viral haemorrhagic fever presenting a severe public health threat to subsaharan west africa. Sequencing the gp and l gene pcr fragments showed that casepatients 3 and 4 were infected with the.
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. Infection with lassa virus in humans may take many forms. Since 2015, major increases in lassa fever attack rate and in the casefatality rate have occurred in this state. Illness in humans develops within 3 weeks after infection with lassa virus 3, 4. When symptoms occur they typically include fever, weakness, headaches, vomiting, and muscle pains. The symptoms of lassa fever can be nonspecific and mimic those of other endemic infections, especially early in illness, making a clinical diagnosis difficult. We report the epidemiology of lassa fever in bauchi state, a diseaseendemic region, in nigeria. Lesson learned from the investigation and response of lassa fever. Measures to control protracted large lassa fever outbreak. Lassa fever full recovery without ribavarin treatment. The risk of getting lassa fever in the united states is extremely low signs and symptoms of lassa fever are usually mild lassa fever can be treated if a healthcare worker suspects lassa fever in a patient, a laboratory test can diagnose the disease.
Bibliometric analysis of global lassa fever research 1970. The lassa virus is transmitted to humans mainly through food or household items contaminated by infected rats urine and faeces and by handling infected rats. Lassa fever is the most common cause of imported haemorrhagic fevers cases in nonendemic countries. Lassa fever is named after the town in northeastern nigeria in which it was discovered in 1969. Mar 26, 2020 lassa fever is the most common cause of imported haemorrhagic fevers cases in nonendemic countries. It is a very unusual situation, said wondimagegnehu alemu. It is endemic to west africa, spread by the multimammate rat that abounds in the region and is sometimes eaten as bushmeat. Confirmed and suspected cases of lassa fever have been steadily rising in nigeria over the past 3 years. Measures to control protracted large lassa fever outbreak in. Lassa fever is endemic in regions of west africa, including guinea, liberia, nigeria. This study was conducted to assess awareness and knowledge of lassa fever preventive measures among community residents in the affected areas in order to guide risk communication interventions. Lassa fever is endemic exclusively in west africa figure 4. Eighty percent of those infected with lassa virus experience mild or no symptoms, and 20% develop severe multisystem organ disease.
Lassa fever is endemic in west africa, where it probably kills several thousand. Epidemiologic and clinical features of lassa fever. In studies of lassa fever in sierra leone, the prevalence. Epidemiology of lassa fever and factors associated with. Citescore values are based on citation counts in a given year e. Yoshihiro hirabayashi, department of infectious diseases, institute of medical science, university of tokyo, 461 shirokanedai, minatoku, tokyo 108, japan. Baseline mapping of lassa fever virology, epidemiology 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. 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. The most common bibliometric indicators were applied for the selected publications. Viral haemorrhagic fevers can be caused by viruses from several different families, all of which have the potential to cause disease with haemorrhagic features. Laboratory diagnosis of lassa fever journal of clinical.
The reservoir of the lassa virus is a rodent of the genus mastomys known as multimammate rat. Many of those infected by the virus do not develop symptoms. Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the lassa virus arenaviridae virus. The journal of infectious diseases, volume 155, issue 3, march 1987, pages. 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. In addition to the severity and high fatality of the disease, a significant population of survivors suffer from longterm. Capitalizing on the opportunity presented when a healthcare worker with acute lassa fever was repatriated from west africa to emory university hospital. It is spread through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, or through close contact with a person who is sick with lassa fever. Signs and symptoms include facial swelling, conjunctivitis and mucosal bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, tachycardia, cough chest pain and meningitis. Pathogenesis of lassa fever in cynomolgus macaques. It is endemic in parts of west africa including sierra leone, liberia, guinea and nigeria. The incubation period for lassa fever varies from 6 21 days. Neighboring countries are also at risk, as the animal vector for lassa virus, the multimammate rat mastomys natalensis is distributed throughout the region.
Prospective study of the epidemiology and ecology of lassa fever. Overall knowledge of lassa fever was poor for 51 38. Lassa fever awareness and knowledge among community residents. Lassa fever lf is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the lassa virus. Ribavirin, an antiviral drug, has been used to successfully treat patients with lassa fever. Less commonly there may be bleeding from the mouth or. Less commonly there may be bleeding from the mouth or gastrointestinal tract. It is symptomatic and usually characterized by fever, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, sore. An acute viral hemorrhagic fever due to the lassa virus.
Lassa fever was confirmed in casepatients 3 and 4 by rtpcr as well as by igm and igg seroconversion in the surviving patient casepatient 3. The general lack of comprehensive data on the trends of lassa fever lf outbreaks contrasts with its widespread occurrence in west africa and is an important constraint in the design of effective control measures. We used the scopus database employing lassa fever as search descriptor. Medical and academic research on lassa fever haemorrhagic fever viruses, of which the lassa fever virus is one, according to bossi, tegnell, baka, loocket al. It usually causes mild symptoms, including slight fever, weakness, and headache. However, some lassa fever cases have been imported into the u. Who is working with countries in the region to strengthen coordination and crossborder cooperation. Apr 20, 2020 lassa fever is a viral illness that occurs in west africa. Lassa fever, also known as lassa hemorrhagic fever lhf, is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the lassa virus.
Lassa fever is one of the hemorrhagic fever viruses, occurring in west africa subregions in similar areas as ebola virus. As a disease with a high casefatality rate that has regularly caused clusters of nosocomial transmission in endemic areas, prompt diagnosis is vital. Lassa fever is a viral disease spread by the the multimammate rat. The multimammate mouse mastomys natalensis is the only known nonhuman host for lassa virus monath et al.
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