Lassa Fever in Liberia
13 Mar 2018
The Liberian Ministry of Health (MoH) has confirmed via media 
3 Lassa fever cases from 2 counties: Montserrado (2) and Nimba (1) on 8 March 2018.
All of the cases have died and were buried in a safe and dignified manner. Contact tracing is being carried out. While there is no known link between the cases, 134 contacts are being followed-up in 3 counties: Montserrado (105), Margibi (25) and Nimba (4), including 37 healthcare workers.
Since 1 Jan 2018, 28 suspected cases (including 12 deaths) of Lassa fever have been reported in Liberia, including 12 deaths.
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 a viral 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.