Liberia reports increase in Lassa fever

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

The Liberia Ministry of Health reports an increase in Lassa fever cases since the beginning of the year. In just the week ending Jan. 26, the country saw 10 confirmed cases.

Since the beginning of 2020, the West African country reported a cumulative total of 55 suspected cases has been recorded across the country. Among these, a total of 24 confirmed cases with nine associated deaths has been reported from nine health districts in six counties.

Grand Bossa and Bong counties account for 20 of the confirmed cases.

A number of public health measures have been implemented to include the deployment of response teams to the affected areas, the strengthening of infection control measures and information and education to the public.

The World Health Organization says mitigating human and vector (rats) interaction need to be

prioritized to decrease recurrence of Lassa fever outbreak. To achieve this, it requires effective social mobilization and community engagement strategies targeting vector control and environmental management especially in endemic areas.