- 10 Mar 2018 Lassa fever - West Africa (17): Liberia (MO, NI)
- 10 Mar 2018 Listeriosis - Singapore: Australian rockmelons, NOT
- 10 Mar 2018 Rift Valley fever - South Sudan (06): (EL) livestock, RFI
- 10 Mar 2018 Syphilis - USA (02): (WI) cluster, mostly young men, HIV, congenital
- 10 Mar 2018 Influenza (10): WHO global update, Kenya
- 10 Mar 2018 Leptospirosis, melioidosis - Australia: (QL) flooding, alert
- 10 Mar 2018 Kyasanur Forest disease - India (07): (GA)
- 09 Mar 2018 Avian influenza (46): Bulgaria (DO) poultry, HPAI H5, OIE, RFI
- 09 Mar 2018 Rift Valley fever - South Sudan (05): (EL) bovine, OIE
- 09 Mar 2018 Foot & mouth disease - China (03): (HE) st. O, livestock, OIE
- 09 Mar 2018 Leprosy - India: rifampin resistance
- 09 Mar 2018 Avian influenza (45): UK (England) wild bird, HPAI H5N6, alert
- 09 Mar 2018 Rift Valley fever - South Sudan (04): (EL) human, livestock
- 09 Mar 2018 Jamestown Canyon virus - Canada: (MB)
- 08 Mar 2018 Schmallenberg virus - Europe (05): Ireland, ovine, bovine
- 08 Mar 2018 Brucellosis - USA: (TX) unpasteurized milk, B. abortus vaccine strain, 2017, CDC
- 08 Mar 2018 Yellow fever - Americas (20): Brazil
- 08 Mar 2018 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (11): Africa
- 08 Mar 2018 Salmonellosis, st Typhimurium - USA (03): chicken salad, CDC report
- 08 Mar 2018 Avian influenza (44): India (OR) poultry, HPAI H5N1, OIE
- 08 Mar 2018 Thallium poisoning - Russia: (RO) aircraft factory workers
- 08 Mar 2018 MERS-CoV (09): Saudi Arabia, WHO
- 08 Mar 2018 Haemophilus influenzae, type a - Canada: Indigenous populations, vaccine
- 08 Mar 2018 Undiagnosed toxic agent - UK: (England) nerve agent susp
- 07 Mar 2018 Meningitis - Nigeria: fatal
- 07 Mar 2018 Measles update (16): Asia & Pacific, Europe, South America
- 07 Mar 2018 Avian influenza (43): China, poultry, HPAI H5N6, H7N9, OIE
- 07 Mar 2018 Listeriosis - Australia (02): fatal, cantaloupe, more cases
- 07 Mar 2018 Parvovirus - New Zealand: (WK) canine
- 07 Mar 2018 Hepatitis A - USA (10): (KY, UT, MI)
- 07 Mar 2018 Hantavirus - Americas (18): USA (CO)
- 07 Mar 2018 Anthrax, bovine - Argentina: (BS)
- 07 Mar 2018 Hepatitis A - Australia (02): (VI) MSM
- 07 Mar 2018 Salmonellosis, st Enteritidis - USA: guinea pig exposure
- 07 Mar 2018 Cutaneous & renal glomerular vasculopathy, canine - UK (03): spread, update
- 07 Mar 2018 Avian influenza (43): Bulgaria (DO) poultry, HPAI H5N8
- 06 Mar 2018 Lassa fever - West Africa (16): Nigeria
- 06 Mar 2018 Avian influenza (42): USA (MO) poultry, LPAI H7N1, OIE
- 05 Mar 2018 Avian influenza (41): India (OR) HPAI H5N1, wild bird, OIE
- 05 Mar 2018 Colorado tick fever virus - Canada: (SK)
- 05 Mar 2018 Rabbit hemorrhagic disease - Canada: (BC), alert
- 05 Mar 2018 Listeriosis - South Africa (09): fatal, health dept. press release
- 05 Mar 2018 Listeriosis - South Africa (08): fatal, more cases, source found, polony
- 05 Mar 2018 Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Namibia (02): (OS)
- 05 Mar 2018 Meloidogyne enterolobii decline, guava - India: 1st rep (TN)
- 04 Mar 2018 Equine infectious anemia - Canada: (AB) equine
- 04 Mar 2018 Salmonella, pet food - USA (02): recall: feline deaths
- 04 Mar 2018 Syphilis - Australia: (QL) fatal, congenital, incr. cases, indigenous
- 04 Mar 2018 Hantavirus - Americas (17): USA (NM)
- 04 Mar 2018 Yellow fever - Americas (19): Brazil
- 04 Mar 2018 Measles update (15): Europe, Asia, Pacific
- 04 Mar 2018 Viral hemorrhagic septicemia, fish - Italy: (LM) OIE
- 04 Mar 2018 Pertussis (04): USA, Armenia, Australia, New Zealand
- 03 Mar 2018 Meningitis - South Sudan: (Imatong) fatal, susp, RFI
- 03 Mar 2018 Infectious salmon anemia - Canada: (NS)
- 03 Mar 2018 Salmonellosis, st I 4,[5],12:b:- - USA (02): kratom
- 03 Mar 2018 Yellow fever - Africa (04): Nigeria
- 03 Mar 2018 Avian influenza (40): Denmark (East) wild bird, HPAI H5N6, OIE
- 03 Mar 2018 Strangles, equine - USA (02): (FL)
- 03 Mar 2018 Pneumoconiosis - USA: (VA,WV,KY) coal miners
- 03 Mar 2018 African swine fever - Europe (05): Poland, wild boar, spread
- 02 Mar 2018 Hantavirus - Americas (16): Panama (LS)
- 02 Mar 2018 African swine fever - Europe (05): Moldova, domestic, OIE
- 02 Mar 2018 Eastern equine encephalitis - USA: (FL)
- 02 Mar 2018 Anthrax - Australia: (VI) ovine
- 02 Mar 2018 Pneumonia - Zimbabwe: outbreak, RFI
- 02 Mar 2018 American foulbrood, apis - Australia: (SA)
- 02 Mar 2018 Lassa fever - West Africa (15): Ghana
- 02 Mar 2018 Aphanomyces root rot, pea & lentil - Canada: survey
- 02 Mar 2018 Hantavirus - Americas (15): USA (AZ) comment
- 02 Mar 2018 Hantavirus - Americas (14): Chile (LL)
- 01 Mar 2018 Stripe rust, wheat - India: (PB) alert
- 01 Mar 2018 Diphtheria - Yemen: fatal, WHO, more cases
- 01 Mar 2018 Listeriosis - Australia: fatal, cantaloupe
- 01 Mar 2018 Yellow fever - Americas (18): WHO Brazil, Europe ex Brazil
- 01 Mar 2018 Legionellosis - USA (04): (FL) spa, pool, irrigation system susp
- 01 Mar 2018 Tilapia syncytial hepatitis - Peru: (PI) OIE
- 01 Mar 2018 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (10): Africa
- 01 Mar 2018 Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus - New Zealand: new strain
- 01 Mar 2018 Letter, unknown contaminant - USA: (VA) military staff
- 01 Mar 2018 Avian influenza (39): Netherlands, poultry, HPAI H5N6, OIE
- 01 Mar 2018 Hantavirus - Americas (13): USA (AZ), Panama (LS)
- 01 Mar 2018 Foot & mouth disease - Russia (02): (ZB) bovine, st O, epidemiology
- 28 Feb 2018 Salmonellosis - USA (04) : (CO) restaurant chain
- 28 Feb 2018 Salmonellosis, st Typhimurium - Africa: ST313, virulence
- 28 Feb 2018 Hepatitis E - Namibia (05): (KH) fatal
- 28 Feb 2018 Rabies (12): Africa (S Africa) Asia (Thailand) animal, human
- 28 Feb 2018 Measles update (14): Europe, Asia and Pacific, USA
- 28 Feb 2018 Lassa fever - West Africa (14): Nigeria
- 28 Feb 2018 Yellow fever - Americas (17): Europe, Argentina ex Brazil
- 28 Feb 2018 Hantavirus - Americas (13): Argentina (BA)
- 27 Feb 2018 Avian influenza (38): Saudi Arabia (RI) poultry, HPAI H5N8, spread
- 27 Feb 2018 Hepatitis E - Japan: transfusion, fatal
- 27 Feb 2018 African swine fever - Europe (04): Ukraine, wild boar, domestic, OIE
- 26 Feb 2018 Avian influenza (37): Netherlands (GR) poultry, HPAI H5N6
- 26 Feb 2018 Avian influenza (36): Viet Nam (HP) HPAI H5N6, poultry, OIE
- 26 Feb 2018 Angiostrongylus cantonensis - USA (02): (HI)
- 26 Feb 2018 Botulism, avian - New Zealand (03): (CA) waterfowl, update
- 26 Feb 2018 Avian influenza (35): update, OIE
- 26 Feb 2018 Foot & mouth disease - India: (PB) ungulates, zoo animals
- 26 Feb 2018 Rubella - Syria: (RA) IDP camp
- 25 Feb 2018 Citrus tristeza virus - Portugal: northern & central
- 25 Feb 2018 Dengue/DHF update (05): Asia, Pacific, Australia, vaccination, research
- 25 Feb 2018 Tuberculosis - USA: (AL) 2-year community outbreak, nightclubs, RFI
- 25 Feb 2018 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (09): Asia (Yemen) WHO
- 25 Feb 2018 Influenza (09): WHO global update, vaccine recommendations
- 24 Feb 2018 Undiagnosed deaths, ovine - India: (KA), nematodes suspected, RFI
- 24 Feb 2018 Schmallenberg virus - Europe (04): UK (N. Ireland), ovine
- 24 Feb 2018 Measles update (13): Europe (France), USA (TX)
- 24 Feb 2018 Yellow fever - Americas (16): Brazil
- 24 Feb 2018 Avian influenza, human (09): China (JS), H7N4
- 24 Feb 2018 Listeriosis - South Africa (07): fatal, more cases
- 23 Feb 2018 Hepatitis B - USA: (FL) 2011-2016
- 23 Feb 2018 Typhoid fever - Pakistan (03): multidrug resistance, fatal
- 23 Feb 2018 Hepatitis A - Australia: (VI) MSM
- 23 Feb 2018 Salmonellosis, st Typhimurium - USA (02): chicken salad, CDC report
- 22 Feb 2018 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (08): Africa, Asia
- 22 Feb 2018 Lassa fever - West Africa (13): Nigeria
- 22 Feb 2018 Gummy stem blight, cucurbits - China: (Northeast)
- 22 Feb 2018 Pertussis (03): USA, Nigeria, Australia, Indonesia
- 22 Feb 2018 Hepatitis A - USA (09): (KY, UT, MI)
- 22 Feb 2018 Varicella update (03): shingles research, India alert
- 22 Feb 2018 Avian influenza, human (08): Yemen, RFI
- 22 Feb 2018 Botulism, avian - New Zealand (02): (WL) waterfowl, susp
- 22 Feb 2018 Yellow fever - Americas (15): Brazil (RJ)
- 21 Feb 2018 Rabies (11): Asia (Kazakhstan) livestock, wolf, OIE
- 21 Feb 2018 Cutaneous & renal glomerular vasculopathy, canine - UK (02): (England) spread
- 21 Feb 2018 Bovine tuberculosis - USA (02): (MI) bovine
- 21 Feb 2018 Bacterial canker, kiwifruit - Argentina: 1st rep, pollen (BA)
- 21 Feb 2018 Arsenic poisoning - UK: magnetic toy, human exposure
- 21 Feb 2018 Lassa fever - West Africa (12): Nigeria
- 21 Feb 2018 Mycoplasma bovis, bovine - New Zealand (03)
- 21 Feb 2018 Canine influenza - USA (03): (NV) H3N2
- 21 Feb 2018 Newcastle disease - Botswana: (CT) dove
- 21 Feb 2018 Hand, foot & mouth disease update (02): Caribbean (Cayman Islands)
- 20 Feb 2018 Salmonellosis, st I 4,[5],12:b:- - USA: kratom
- 20 Feb 2018 Avian influenza (34): Sweden (BL) HPAI H5N6, new strain, OIE
- 20 Feb 2018 Influenza (08): Nepal (Kathmandu) post influenza cough, type B association susp.
- 20 Feb 2018 Norovirus - South Korea (04): (KW) Winter Olympics
- 20 Feb 2018 Avian influenza (33): South Africa, HPAI H5N8, penguin; Iraq, HPAI H5N8, poultry
- 20 Feb 2018 Pentobarbital, dog food - USA: recall
- 20 Feb 2018 Piscine reovirus - North America: USA, Canada, salmon
- 20 Feb 2018 Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
- 20 Feb 2018 E. coli EHEC - Canada: cheese, 2013, 60 day rule
- 20 Feb 2018 Mumps update: USA
- 19 Feb 2018 Stem rust, wheat - UK: Digalu strain, 1st rep
- 19 Feb 2018 Lumpy skin disease - Europe: Balkans 2017, vaccination, control
- 19 Feb 2018 Hepatitis - India: (JK)
- 18 Feb 2018 Influenza D, equine - USA
- 18 Feb 2018 Hantavirus - Americas (12): Chile (AR, AI) Argentina (BA) Panama (LS)
- 18 Feb 2018 Undiagnosed deaths, bovine - India: (OR) RFI
- 18 Feb 2018 Listeriosis - South Africa (06): fatal, more cases
- 18 Feb 2018 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (07): Asia (Yemen) WHO
- 18 Feb 2018 Salmonellosis, st Typhimurium - USA: (IA, MN) chicken salad, alert, recall
- 18 Feb 2018 Measles update (12): Africa, Europe, North America, Pacific
- 18 Feb 2018 Equine herpesvirus - North America (09): USA (AZ, ID, KY, NY)
- 17 Feb 2018 Yellow fever - Americas (14): PAHO/WHO
- 17 Feb 2018 Salmonellosis, st I 4,[5],12:b:- and Newport - USA (02): frozen coconut, recall
- 17 Feb 2018 Yellow fever - Americas (13): Brazil
- 17 Feb 2018 Brucellosis - Oman: (JA) caprine, ovine, bovine
- 17 Feb 2018 Norovirus - South Korea (03): (KW) Winter Olympics
- 16 Feb 2018 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (06): Africa, Asia, Oceania
- 16 Feb 2018 Toxic coffee - Malaysia: (PP) methamphetamine
- 16 Feb 2018 Sporotrichosis - Australia: (WA)
- 16 Feb 2018 Avian influenza (32): Cambodia (PY) poultry, HPAI H5N1, spread
- 16 Feb 2018 Hepatitis A - USA (08): (WY)
- 16 Feb 2018 Psittacosis - China: (HK)
- 16 Feb 2018 Equine infectious anemia - Slovakia: (BC) OIE
- 15 Feb 2018 Lymphatic filariasis - Côte d'Ivoire
- 15 Feb 2018 Salmonella, pet food - USA: recall
- 15 Feb 2018 Rabies (10): Americas (USA) fox, susp, human exposure
- 15 Feb 2018 Anthrax - Papua New Guinea: (MD) porcine, susp
- 15 Feb 2018 Strangles, equine - USA: (MI)
- 15 Feb 2018 Equine herpesvirus, equine (02): EHV-8, poss. association with abortion in mares
- 15 Feb 2018 Coccidioidomycosis - Worldwide: outbreaks, epidemiology, 1940-2015
- 15 Feb 2018 Hepatitis A - USA (07): (CA, UT, MI)
- 15 Feb 2018 Tularemia - USA: (CA) infected ticks
- 15 Feb 2018 Ixodes ricinus tick - UK: expanding distribution
- 15 Feb 2018 Influenza (07): seasonal, H1N1, research
- 15 Feb 2018 Lassa fever - West Africa (11): Nigeria, WHO
- 15 Feb 2018 Avian influenza (31): Ghana (BA) poultry, HPAI H9N2, new strain, OIE
- 14 Feb 2018 Chronic wasting disease, cervid - USA (05): (PA, MS)
- 14 Feb 2018 Phytoplasma/liberibacter coinfection, citrus - Iran: (KE)
- 14 Feb 2018 Salmonellosis - USA (03): (IA) chicken salad, alert, recall
- 14 Feb 2018 Botulism - USA: (CA) wound, injection drug-related
- 14 Feb 2018 Scombroid fish poisoning - Australia: (QL) tuna, alert
- 14 Feb 2018 Hepatitis - Syria: (RD) students
- 14 Feb 2018 Campylobacteriosis - USA (03): (CO) raw milk, herdshare, 2016
- 14 Feb 2018 Legionellosis - USA (3): (IL) vet home, updated water treatment, new cases, RFI
- 14 Feb 2018 Avian influenza, human (07): China (JS) H7N4, 1st report
- 14 Feb 2018 Legionellosis - Australia: (NS)
- 14 Feb 2018 Cattle eye helminth, Thelazia gulosa, human - USA: (OR) 1st rep
- 14 Feb 2018 MERS-CoV (08): Saudi Arabia, RFI
- 14 Feb 2018 Measles update (11): Pacific, Europe, USA
- 14 Feb 2018 Brucellosis - Nigeria: (BA) butchers, serosurvey
- 13 Feb 2018 Hepatitis E - Namibia (04): (KH) fatal
- 13 Feb 2018 Avian influenza (30): China (Hong Kong) wild bird, HPAI H5N6, OIE
- 13 Feb 2018 Avian influenza (29): Ireland (TY) HPAI H5N6, new strain, OIE
- 13 Feb 2018 Hantavirus - Americas (11): USA, Canada
- 13 Feb 2018 Avian influenza, human (06): China (GD) H7N9
- 13 Feb 2018 Foot & mouth disease - Russia: (ZB) bovine, st O, OIE
- 12 Feb 2018 Foot & mouth disease - Nepal: (GA) livestock, st Asia 1, OIE
- 12 Feb 2018 Sudden decline, date palm - Pakistan: (SD)
- 12 Feb 2018 Bovine tuberculosis - Ireland (04): (KY) probable badger source
- 12 Feb 2018 Anthrax - Turkey: (Trabzon) bovine, human
- 12 Feb 2018 Lassa fever - West Africa (10): Nigeria
- 12 Feb 2018 Salmonellosis - USA (02): (CO) restaurant, fatal
- 12 Feb 2018 Microbiological laboratory mishaps - UK: 2015-2017
- 12 Feb 2018 Equine herpesvirus, equine: EHV-8, poss association with abortion in mares
- 11 Feb 2018 Undiagnosed diseases, maize & cassava - Uganda: (SX)
- 11 Feb 2018 Yellow fever - Americas (12): Brazil monkeys
- 11 Feb 2018 Equine herpesvirus - North America (08): USA (OH) equine
- 11 Feb 2018 Norovirus - Canada (Montreal) raspberries ex China
- 11 Feb 2018 Norovirus - South Korea (02): (KW) Winter Olympics
- 11 Feb 2018 Salmonellosis, st Reading - USA: (MN) children, raw pet food, alert, recall
- 11 Feb 2018 Chronic wasting disease, cervid - USA (04): (MS)
- 11 Feb 2018 Meningitis - Spain (03): listeriosis, raw soft ewe cheese, Portugal, recall, RFI
Published Date: 2018-03-10 20:35:44
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Lassa fever - West Africa (17): Liberia (MO, NI)
Archive Number: 20180310.5678669
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Lassa fever - West Africa (17): Liberia (MO, NI)
Archive Number: 20180310.5678669
LASSA FEVER - WEST AFRICA (17): LIBERIA (MONTSERRADO, NIMBA)
************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Thu 8 Mar 2018
Source: Front Page Africa [edited]
http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/health/7169-three-cases-of-lassa-fever-confirmed-in-liberia
The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed 3 Lassa fever cases from 2 counties: Montserrado (2) and Nimba (1).
All 3 confirmed cases have died. The 3 cases have undergone safe and dignified burials, and the county health teams are conducting contact tracing on both healthcare workers and community members who had high-risk (i.e. direct) contact with the patients during their symptomatic periods.
No epidemiological link has been established between the 3 confirmed cases that died. A total of 134 contacts have been identified and are currently being followed-up (Montserrado 105, Margibi 25 and Nimba 4) inclusive of 37 healthcare workers. As of 7 Mar 2018, no new confirmed Lassa fever cases have been reported.
Since 1 Jan 2018, a total of 28 suspected cases of Lassa fever have been reported across Liberia, including 12 deaths. Of these, 7 cases have been confirmed by the National Public Health Reference Laboratory: Nimba (4), Montserrado (2) and Bong (1).
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic illness caused by a virus that is transmitted through contact with the urine or feces of infected rodents and through direct contact with body fluids of symptomatic human cases. In recent years, a consistently increasing trend in the number of Lassa fever cases has been observed in Liberia and other countries across West Africa. This includes Nigeria, where an ongoing outbreak has led to 353 confirmed cases with 78 confirmed and 8 probable deaths since 1 Jan 2018.
Symptoms of Lassa fever include vomiting, respiratory distress, chest pain, hiccups, and unexplained bleeding.
Public Health action taken by the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Ministry of Health and partners are:
- Ensuring that all counties are aware of and prepared for handling any additional Lassa fever cases;
- Disseminating health promotion messages about the signs and symptoms of Lassa fever;
- Re-training Redemption Hospital staff in Lassa fever case management and safe handling of cases;
- Adapting case definition and screening tools and conducting surveillance and contact tracing in affected counties.
An effective treatment called ribavirin is available in the country for Lassa fever and should start as early as possible following symptomatic onset. Therefore, visiting a health facility immediately upon detection of any of the symptoms is critical to both preventing spread of the disease and ensuring safe recovery of the case.
Lassa fever can be prevented by doing the following:
- Keep your home and surroundings clean to keep rats from entering the home.
- Cover your food and drinking water to stop rats from playing in them.
- Dispose of garbage correctly and away from the home.
- Always wash your hands with soap and water.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts
<promed@promedmail.org>
[Evidently, there have been several cases of Lassa fever in Liberia this year (2018). A previous report of a Lassa fever case in Ghana ex Liberia in February 2018 indicated that the infection was acquired in Guinea. Liberia, also a West African country, is endemic for Lassa virus. Lassa fever cases have been reported sporadically there. The Lassa fever belt in Liberia primarily occupies Lofa, Bong and Nimba counties across the northern tier of counties bordering Guinea. West Africa, including Guinea and Liberia, is endemic for Lassa fever virus.
The situation where these people acquired Lassa fever virus is not indicated in these cases. Virus transmission to humans occurs when people are in contact with the reservoir rodent host, the multimammate mouse (in the genus _Mastomys_) or its excreta, as was likely the situation in these cases. Rodent control has to be undertaken at the village level with individual households employing the preventive measures listed above. This requires an extensive and continuous public education effort. Transmission also occurs in health facilities when personal protective equipment is not employed and barrier-nursing practices are not adequate to protect staff from blood and secretions of infected patients.
Images of the _Mastomys_ mouse, the rodent reservoir of Lassa fever virus, can be seen at https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/45326-Mastomys-natalensis.
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map showing the location of both Guinea and Liberia can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/54. - Mod.TY
HealthMap/ProMED-mail maps:
Montserrado County, Liberia: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/34190
Nimba County, Liberia: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/2686]
************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Thu 8 Mar 2018
Source: Front Page Africa [edited]
http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/health/7169-three-cases-of-lassa-fever-confirmed-in-liberia
The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed 3 Lassa fever cases from 2 counties: Montserrado (2) and Nimba (1).
All 3 confirmed cases have died. The 3 cases have undergone safe and dignified burials, and the county health teams are conducting contact tracing on both healthcare workers and community members who had high-risk (i.e. direct) contact with the patients during their symptomatic periods.
No epidemiological link has been established between the 3 confirmed cases that died. A total of 134 contacts have been identified and are currently being followed-up (Montserrado 105, Margibi 25 and Nimba 4) inclusive of 37 healthcare workers. As of 7 Mar 2018, no new confirmed Lassa fever cases have been reported.
Since 1 Jan 2018, a total of 28 suspected cases of Lassa fever have been reported across Liberia, including 12 deaths. Of these, 7 cases have been confirmed by the National Public Health Reference Laboratory: Nimba (4), Montserrado (2) and Bong (1).
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic illness caused by a virus that is transmitted through contact with the urine or feces of infected rodents and through direct contact with body fluids of symptomatic human cases. In recent years, a consistently increasing trend in the number of Lassa fever cases has been observed in Liberia and other countries across West Africa. This includes Nigeria, where an ongoing outbreak has led to 353 confirmed cases with 78 confirmed and 8 probable deaths since 1 Jan 2018.
Symptoms of Lassa fever include vomiting, respiratory distress, chest pain, hiccups, and unexplained bleeding.
Public Health action taken by the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Ministry of Health and partners are:
- Ensuring that all counties are aware of and prepared for handling any additional Lassa fever cases;
- Disseminating health promotion messages about the signs and symptoms of Lassa fever;
- Re-training Redemption Hospital staff in Lassa fever case management and safe handling of cases;
- Adapting case definition and screening tools and conducting surveillance and contact tracing in affected counties.
An effective treatment called ribavirin is available in the country for Lassa fever and should start as early as possible following symptomatic onset. Therefore, visiting a health facility immediately upon detection of any of the symptoms is critical to both preventing spread of the disease and ensuring safe recovery of the case.
Lassa fever can be prevented by doing the following:
- Keep your home and surroundings clean to keep rats from entering the home.
- Cover your food and drinking water to stop rats from playing in them.
- Dispose of garbage correctly and away from the home.
- Always wash your hands with soap and water.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts
<promed@promedmail.org>
[Evidently, there have been several cases of Lassa fever in Liberia this year (2018). A previous report of a Lassa fever case in Ghana ex Liberia in February 2018 indicated that the infection was acquired in Guinea. Liberia, also a West African country, is endemic for Lassa virus. Lassa fever cases have been reported sporadically there. The Lassa fever belt in Liberia primarily occupies Lofa, Bong and Nimba counties across the northern tier of counties bordering Guinea. West Africa, including Guinea and Liberia, is endemic for Lassa fever virus.
The situation where these people acquired Lassa fever virus is not indicated in these cases. Virus transmission to humans occurs when people are in contact with the reservoir rodent host, the multimammate mouse (in the genus _Mastomys_) or its excreta, as was likely the situation in these cases. Rodent control has to be undertaken at the village level with individual households employing the preventive measures listed above. This requires an extensive and continuous public education effort. Transmission also occurs in health facilities when personal protective equipment is not employed and barrier-nursing practices are not adequate to protect staff from blood and secretions of infected patients.
Images of the _Mastomys_ mouse, the rodent reservoir of Lassa fever virus, can be seen at https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/45326-Mastomys-natalensis.
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map showing the location of both Guinea and Liberia can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/54. - Mod.TY
HealthMap/ProMED-mail maps:
Montserrado County, Liberia: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/34190
Nimba County, Liberia: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/2686]
See Also
Lassa fever - West Africa (09): Liberia ex Guinea 20180210.5620420Lassa fever - West Africa (08): Liberia ex Guinea 20180209.5618946
Lassa fever - West Africa (07): Nigeria 20180206.5608967
Lassa fever - West Africa (04): Liberia 20170209.4827934
2016
----
Lassa fever - West Africa (29): Nigeria, Liberia 20160520.4233773
Lassa fever - West Africa (23): Sweden (VG) ex Liberia, additional information 20160406.4141321
Lassa fever - West Africa (22): Sweden 20160404.4137025
2015
----
Lassa fever - USA: (NJ) ex Liberia 20150526.3386913
2014
----
Lassa fever - Nigeria, Liberia 20140328.2363217
2013
---
Lassa fever - Liberia: (BG) fatal cases 20130911.1937742
2011
----
Lassa fever, imported - Sweden (02): (LG) background 20110310.0778
Lassa fever, imported - Sweden: (LG) ex West Africa 20110309.0766
2007
----
Lassa fever - Liberia (03) 20070430.1406
Lassa fever - Liberia (02): confirmed 20070413.1235
Lassa Fever - Liberia: RFI 20070410.1210
2006
----
Lassa fever - Liberia (02) 20061001.2812
Lassa fever - Liberia: RFI 20060929.2783
2004
----
Lassa fever, imported - USA (NJ) ex Liberia (02) 20040930.2700
Lassa fever, imported - USA (NJ) ex Liberia 20040903.2467
.................................................sb/lxl/ty/msp/lxl
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