Lassa Fever

2020 ◽  
pp. 215-222
Author(s):  
Michael B. A. Oldstone
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
West African ◽  
Fever Virus ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The West ◽  
Rodent Host ◽  
Lassa Fever Virus ◽  
Contaminated Blood

This chapter discusses Lassa fever virus in detail. Lassa fever virus was first recognized in West Africa in 1969, but it has likely existed in that region for much longer. Lassa fever virus causes persistent infection in its natural rodent host, that is, a long-term infection that does not directly kill. The rodent host carries these viruses in its blood and passes them in its urine and feces. It is by contact with such excretions from the rodent that humans become infected. The rodent-to-human transmission is augmented by human-to-human transmission, which spreads the viruses via contaminated blood, excreta, or saliva. After the virus enters its host, a 4- to 12-day incubation period passes; then the symptoms of disease suddenly begin. Usually, a flu-like syndrome of fever, chills, and malaise with muscle and headaches is followed by abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The terminal stage adds poor coagulation, increased vascular permeability, hemorrhage, and neurologic symptoms. Those progressing to death have extremely large amounts of virus in their blood. Currently, a very modest amount of research is under way in the West African countries where Lassa fever virus is endemic.

scholarly journals The niche of One Health approaches in Lassa fever surveillance and control

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liã Bárbara Arruda ◽  
Najmul Haider ◽  
Ayodeji Olayemi ◽  
David Simons ◽  
Deborah Ehichioya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
One Health ◽  
Population Expansion ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
West African ◽  
Lassa Virus ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Rodent Host ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
And Control

AbstractLassa fever (LF), a zoonotic illness, represents a public health burden in West African countries where the Lassa virus (LASV) circulates among rodents. Human exposure hinges significantly on LASV ecology, which is in turn shaped by various parameters such as weather seasonality and even virus and rodent-host genetics. Furthermore, human behaviour, despite playing a key role in the zoonotic nature of the disease, critically affects either the spread or control of human-to-human transmission. Previous estimations on LF burden date from the 80s and it is unclear how the population expansion and the improvement on diagnostics and surveillance methods have affected such predictions. Although recent data have contributed to the awareness of epidemics, the real impact of LF in West African communities will only be possible with the intensification of interdisciplinary efforts in research and public health approaches. This review discusses the causes and consequences of LF from a One Health perspective, and how the application of this concept can improve the surveillance and control of this disease in West Africa.

scholarly journals Case series of outcome of newborn babies exposed to Lassa fever virus infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorathy Chinwe Obu ◽  
Obumneme Benaianh Ezeanosike ◽  
Samuel Amechi Nwukor
Keyword(s):  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Positive Outcome ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
West African ◽  
Lassa Virus ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Lassa Fever Virus ◽  
Prompt Diagnosis

Lassa fever (LF) is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus, a zoonotic infection transmitted by the infected multimammate mouse which is endemic in West African countries. It affects all ages contributing to high maternal and neonatal mortality rates. Neonates are at risk of vertical and horizontal transmission of Lassa virus. We report a series of six newborns, three of whom were delivered to Lassa fever positive mothers and were managed as exposed babies while the remaining three were diagnosed with neonatal Lassa fever. None of the babies exposed to the virus became infected and two of these exposed babies had a positive outcome. All the babies with neonatal Lassa fever died days after birth even before confirming the diagnosis and initiating ribavirin treatment. This highlights the need for prompt diagnosis in utero with treatment of mother before delivery to improve the neonatal outcome. Also, the need to commence intravenous ribavirin treatment in highly suspicious cases of neonatal Lassa fever while awaiting confirmation of the diagnosis is emphasized.

scholarly journals Community hygiene against lassa fever disease and its predictors in a Nigerian rural settlement

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A A Gobir ◽  
C L Ejembi ◽  
A A Aliyu ◽  
M B Garba ◽  
C J C Igboanusi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
West African ◽  
World Health ◽  
Food Storage ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
Viral Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Hygiene Measures

Abstract Background Lassa fever disease (LFD) is a viral haemorrhagic fever that is endemic in some West african countries where an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 cases and 5000 deaths occur yearly. The World Health Organization described it as a global health threat. At community level, its prevention relies on promoting good “community hygiene”. This study was conducted to assess practice of community hygiene measures against LFD and its associated factors. Methods A cross-sectional, community based descriptive study conducted during a LFD epidemic in a a rural community of Nigeria. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 556 adult respondents, selected using systematic random sampling technique. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Results A majority of the respondents were females (52.9%). Educational attainment was significantly associated with safe food storage at the multivariate level (aOR= 1.31, 95% CI: 1.10-1.54,P= 0.002) while having a good knowledge of LFD was a significant predictor of maintaining good housing standards (aOR= 3.73, 95% CI: 1.09-12.80,P=0.036). Conclusions Predictors of practice of community hygiene against LFD include education and having an excellent knowledge of LFD. To improve community hygiene practices in the community, there is need for a comprehensive LFD behavior change communication intervention. Key messages Cubing the global threat of LFD depends on its effective prevention in endemic West African communities. This study shows that such preventive measures are poor and there is need for more response to address the problem.

Long-term fertility experiments for irrigated rice in the West African Sahel: effect on soil characteristics

2004 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.M. Haefele ◽  
M.C.S. Wopereis ◽  
A.-M. Schloebohm ◽  
H. Wiechmann
Keyword(s):  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
West African ◽  
The West ◽  
Irrigated Rice ◽  
West African Sahel ◽  
African Sahel

English in West Africa

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrike Gut
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Structural Properties ◽  
West African ◽  
The Other ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The West ◽  
Current Role ◽  
British Colonization

This chapter describes the history, role, and structural properties of English in the West African countries the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, the anglophone part of Cameroon, and the island of Saint Helena. It provides an overview of the historical phases of trading contact, British colonization and missionary activities and describes the current role of English in these multilingual countries. Further, it outlines the commonalities and differences in the vocabulary, phonology, morphology, and syntax of the varieties of English spoken in anglophone West Africa. It shows that Liberian Settler English and Saint Helenian English have distinct phonological and morphosyntactic features compared to the other West African Englishes. While some phonological areal features shared by several West African Englishes can be identified, an areal profile does not seem to exist on the level of morphosyntax.

scholarly journals Macroeconomic convergence in the West African monetary zone: Evidence from rank tests

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 191
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Numapau Gyamfi ◽  
Anokye Mohammed Adam ◽  
Emily Frimpomaa Appiah
Keyword(s):  
Exchange Rates ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Score Test ◽  
West African ◽  
Rank Tests ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The West ◽  
Nominal Exchange Rates ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Non Parametric

This article examined convergence of inflation and exchange rates in six (6) West African countries that make up the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ). A non-parametric rank and score test was employed in the analysis. The results show that inflation and nominal exchange rates of Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone are converging. The findings have practical implications.

scholarly journals Lassa Fever: Viral Replication, Disease Pathogenesis, and Host Immune Modulations

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 437
Author(s):  
Hinh Ly
Keyword(s):  
Lassa Fever ◽  
West African ◽  
Host Factors ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Disease Pathogenesis ◽  
Virus Life Cycle ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Made In

Despite major discoveries made in the last few decades about Lassa fever, there are still many unresolved key issues that hamper the development of effective vaccines and therapies against this deadly disease that is endemic in several West African countries. Some of these issues include the lack of a detailed understanding of the viral and participating host factors in completing the virus life cycle, in mediating disease pathogenesis or protection from disease, and in activating or suppressing host innate and cellular immunity against virus infection, as well as of the animal models required for testing vaccines and therapeutics. This Special Issue is devoted to understanding some of these important issues and to exploring the current status of the research and development in combating Lassa fever.

scholarly journals Melanin Production Inhibitors from the West African Cassipourea congoensis

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (02) ◽  
pp. e50-e56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieudonné M. Takou ◽  
Alain F. Kamdem Waffo ◽  
Moses K. Langat ◽  
Jean D. Wansi ◽  
Lauren E. Mulcahy-Ryan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crude Extract ◽  
West African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The West ◽  
Melanin Production ◽  
Cycloartane Triterpenoids ◽  
Low Cytotoxicity ◽  
Skin Lightening

Abstract Cassipourea congoensis (syn. Cassipourea malosana) is used in African countries as a skin-lightening agent. Two previously unreported cycloartane triterpenoids, 26-hydroxy-3-keto-24-methylenecycloartan-30-oic acid 1 and 24-methylenecycloartan-3β,26,30-triol 2 along with the known mahuannin B 3, 7-methoxymahuannin B 4, 7-methoxygeranin A 5, methyl-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2E-propenoate, glycerol-1-alkanoate, (E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enal 6 , (-)-syringaresinol 7, and stigmast-5-en-3-O-β-D-glucoside, were isolated from the roots of C. congoensis. The crude extract and compounds 1 and 5 were found to inhibit the production of melanin at 10 µM with low cytotoxicity validating the ethnomedicinal use of this plant.

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