Lassa Fever in Nigeria
30 Jun 2017
On 26 June, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control issued a Lassa fever update
for the year until 25 June 2017. Since the beginning of 2017, there were 301 suspected Lassa fever cases in 22 States across Nigeria. There were 65 laboratory confirmed cases and 49 deaths. For the same period in 2016 there were 717 suspected cases, 71 laboratory confirmed cases and 87 deaths from 27 States reported.
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 faeces 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.