Hospital-based surveillance for Lassa fever in Edo State, Nigeria, 2005-2008.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To estimate the burden of Lassa fever in northern and central Edo, a state in south Nigeria where Lassa fever has been reported.

METHODS:

Blood samples were obtained from 60 patients hospitalised at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua, with a clinical suspicion of Lassa fever and from 451 febrile outpatients seen at the ISTH and hospitals in Ekpoma, Iruekpen, Uromi, Auchi and Igarra. All samples were tested retrospectively by Lassa virus-specific RT-PCR. Outpatients were additionally screened for Lassa virus-specific antibodies by indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay.

RESULTS:

Lassa virus was detected in 25 of 60 (42%) patients with a clinical suspicion of Lassa fever. The disease affected persons of all age groups and with various occupations, including healthcare workers. The clinical picture was dominated by gastrointestinal symptoms. The case fatality rate was 29%. Lassa virus was detected in 2 of 451 (0.44%) febrile outpatients, and 8 (1.8%) were positive for Lassa virus-specific IgG.

CONCLUSIONS:

Lassa fever contributes to hospital mortality in Edo State. The low prevalence of the disease among outpatients and the low seroprevalence may indicate that the population-level incidence is not high. Surveillance for Lassa fever should focus on the hospitalised patient.

• Authors: Deborah U Ehichioya, Danny A Asogun, Jacqueline Ehimuan, Peter O Okokhere, Meike Pahlmann, Stephan Olschläger, Beate Becker-Ziaja, Stephan Günther, Sunday A Omilabu
• Journal: Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH (Trop Med Int Health) Vol. 17 Issue 8 Pg. 1001-4 (Aug 2012) ISSN: 1365-3156 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22594713 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• RNA, Viral

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antibodies, Viral
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
• Hospitals, Teaching (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Infant
• Lassa Fever (epidemiology, genetics, mortality)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nigeria (epidemiology)
• Prevalence
• RNA, Viral (analysis)
• Retrospective Studies
• Socioeconomic Factors
• Young Adult