High fatality of Lassa fever outbreak in Kenema District- Sierra Leone, January 2023
Introduction: In Sierra Leone, Lassa fever is an endemic disease with an estimated 16% fatality rate among hospitalized cases. On January 16, 2023, the Kenema District Health Management Team received notification about suspected cases of Lassa fever from the Kenema Government Hospital. We investigat...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
African Field Epidemiology Network
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/series/8/2/8/full/ |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Introduction: In Sierra Leone, Lassa fever is an endemic disease with an estimated 16% fatality rate among hospitalized cases. On January 16, 2023, the Kenema District Health Management Team received notification about suspected cases of Lassa fever from the Kenema Government Hospital. We investigated to confirm the diagnosis, identify the source, and search for additional cases.
Methods: We interviewed case-patients and family members and collected demographic, clinical, and exposure history date using the lassa fever case investigation form. We collected samples and sent them to the Kenema Reference Hemorrhagic Fever Laboratory for testing. An active case search in communities and health facilities was conducted; 58 contacts (20 household members and 38 health workers) were line-listed and monitored for 21 days. Environmental assessment, including rodent trapping, was also conducted
Results: Four cases were confirmed for Lassa fever infection, three of them females, aged 21, 22, and 25 years, of which one was a pregnant mother; and a male aged two years. All cases presented with fever, cough, pain, and difficulty breathing. Two of the three female cases died, including the pregnant mother, presented with bleeding and severe respiratory distress. The cases were detected late; it took an average of 10days from onset of fever to clinician's suspicion of Lassa fever. No additional cases were identified, and none of the contacts developed Lassa fever symptoms. We observed overcrowding, poor food storage, and rodent droppings in patients' homes. Three rats were trapped, and one tested positive for the Lassa fever virus.
Conclusion: A Lassa fever outbreak was confirmed with a high fatality rate in the Kenema District of Sierra Leone. Rodents were likely to be the possible source of infection. We sensitized the community on early health care seeking and improved environmental sanitation. We recommend increasing the index of suspicion for Lassa fever for early detection by training clinicians on Lassa Fever and other hemorrhagic fever diseases. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2664-2824 |