Lassa fever in Nigeria (Update 2)
27 Mar 2019
The Word Health Organisation (WHO)
reports Lassa fever transmission continues in Nigeria.
In the week ending 17 March 2019), 23 cases (including 4 deaths) were reported from nine states. Edo (8 cases) and Ondo (4 cases) states reported 52% of the total cases. In 2019, Seventy-three Local Government Areas (LGAs) across 21 states have reported at least one confirmed case.
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 zoonotic viral disease transmitted via the excreta of an infected Mastomys rat. 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.
For further informations see Viral Haemorrhagic Fever.