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Lassa fever outbreak in Liberia
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At least 38 suspected cases of Lassa fever and 15 deaths have been identified in Liberia since January, according to WHO.
Although WHO reports that additional cases are expected to occur, the risk for widespread transmission is considered to be low, and currently there are no travel or trade restrictions to Liberia. The agency is advising countries in West Africa that are endemic for Lassa fever to strengthen their surveillance systems. To date, Liberia has identified 134 contacts who completed a 21-day follow-up period and 17 who are currently being monitored.
Lassa fever is primarily transmitted to humans through exposure to rodent urine or feces, according to WHO. Symptoms may include headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cough and abdominal pain. In severe cases, facial swelling, fluid in the lungs, low blood pressure and bleeding from the mouth, nose, vagina or gastrointestinal tract may occur. The disease also is associated with hearing loss in 25% of survivors.
As the symptoms of Lassa fever vary, it is often difficult to diagnose the disease, WHO reported. It also is difficult to distinguish from Ebola virus disease and other hemorrhagic fevers.
Perspective
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Carlos del Rio, MD, FIDSA
Liberia is an area that has been physically endemic for Lassa fever. In fact, when we started seeing Ebola in Liberia, we thought it was Lassa fever because it has existed there for a long time. WHO and other organizations are more attuned to hemorrhagic fevers nowadays. Anything is potentially significant.
Lassa fever is less severe than Ebola — there’s no doubt about that. [However], about 15% to 20% of patients who are hospitalized die, and it’s particularly severe among pregnant women. The cases that we see in the United States are typically among returning travelers from that part of the world.
After Ebola, everybody is hyperaware of this virus. If you have an outbreak of Lassa fever, you worry that something may be potentially going on. You have to be aware and you have to be on top of it. There are a lot of international efforts to really try to understand what’s going on and to try to make a difference.
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