Lassa fever – Nigeria

Two members of the Nigerian Medical Associateion (NMA), have died from Lassa Fever in Oyo, Nigeria.
Other health workers who have had contact with the diseased unknowingly were advised to quarantine and report if they develop any symptoms of viral hemorrhagic fever.

Members, especially the frontline doctors and other health workers are required to always wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.
The Oyo State Government is advised to conduct intensive surveillance and sensitisation on Lassa Fever outbreaks in the affected communities as well as across all local government areas in the state.Lassa fever, also known as Lassa hemorrhagic fever (LHF), is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus. Many of those infected by the virus do not develop symptoms but for 1 percent of those infected, death occurs in the first two weeks. The disease is usually initially spread to people via contact with the urine or feces of an infected mouse. Spread can then further continue between people.

There is no vaccine. Prevention requires isolating those who are infected and decreasing contact with mice.

Descriptions of the disease date from the 1950s. The virus was first described in 1969 from a case in the town of Lassa, in Borno State, Nigeria. Lassa fever is relatively common in West Africa.