Lassa fever outbreak in Sierra Leone

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

This week, the Ministry of Health in Sierra Leone formally notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of the Lassa fever outbreak in the country.

The first confirmed case-patient was a male Dutch medical doctor who worked in Masanga hospital, Tonkolili District, who later died in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Later, a second Lassa fever case was confirmed in a female Dutch healthcare worker, who worked (alongside the first confirmed case to perform two surgical procedures) in Masanga hospital.

To date, the Lassa fever cluster has accounted for eight cases, including three deaths.

Got Smallpox?

As of today, a total of 48 contacts have been identified and are being monitored in Denmark, Germany, Sierra Leone, The Netherlands, Uganda and United Kingdom.

The Ministry of Health in Sierra Leone, supported by US CDC and WHO, has deployed the national rapid response team to conduct outbreak investigations in all areas with links to this event, including Tonkolili and Bombali districts.