Epidemiology and Control of Lassa fever
Journal Title: Interventions in Pediatric Dentistry Open Access Journal - Year 2018, Vol 1, Issue 4
Abstract
The Lassa Virus (an Arenavirus) is found in West Africa, where it sometimes a severe hemorrhage illness called Lassa fever. The antivirus drug ribavirin is effective, but only if administered early in the course of illness. Because of its expense, need for intravenous administration, potential toxicity, and teratogenicity, empiric therapy with ribavirin is undesirable. Laboratory diagnosis of acute Lassa virus infection has traditionally employed the indirect fluorescent-antibody (IFA) test. However, enzymelinked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for Lassa virus antigen and immunoglobin M (IgM and IgG) antibodies have been developed that are thought to be more sensitive and specific likely represent underestimates with. The high sensitive and specificity, capability for early diagnosis, and prognostic value of the ELISAs make them the diagnostic tests of choice for detection of Lassa fever. Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever transmitted by rats. It has been known since the 1950s, but the virus was not identified until 1969, when two missionary nurses died from it in the town of Lassa in Nigeria. Found predominantly in West Africa, it has the potential to cause tens of thousands of deaths. Even after recovery, the virus remains in body fluids, including semen. The years of civil unrest in Sierra Leone (1991-2002) halted the investigation (through international collaboration) of Lassa fever at a specialist unit Kenema. Increasing international travel and the possibility of use of the Lassa virus as a biological weapon escalate the potential for harm beyond the local level. Access to the country is improving, so renewed efforts to understand it are feasible. The fact that Lassa fever was an arenavirus suggested the existence of a rodent host, which was identified when Lassa virus was isolated from Mastomys natalensis in 1972.
Authors and Affiliations
Effiong Edet Bassey
Keywords
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- EP ID EP575956
- DOI 10.32474/IPDOAJ.2018.01.000116
- Views 78
- Downloads 0
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