Lassa Fever in Nigeria (Update)
30 Mar 2017
A media report
of 27 March 2017 advised that between December 2016 and 19 Mar 2017, a total of 283 suspected cases of Lassa fever have been reported, including 56 deaths. Of these suspected cases, a total of 99 were laboratory confirmed by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria.
The cases were reported across 13 states: Ogun, Bauchi, Plateau, Ebonyi, Ondo, Edo, Taraba, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kaduna, Gombe, Cross-River, and Borno.
Advice for Travellers
Lassa fever is a low risk for most travellers unless living in poor sanitary conditions with overcrowding in rural areas where the host is usually found. Lassa fever is aviral disease transmitted via the faces of infected rats. Healthcare workers are at risk if good infection control and barrier nursing methods are not maintained.
Travellers returning from affected areas who develop symptoms of fever, malaise, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain should seek medical advice.