By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported the second confirmed Lassa fever case and fatality in the West African country of Guinea.
Image/CIA
The first case was notified on 8 May 2021 at the Yomou prefecture hospital, a resident of Yomou prefecture. The patient was also confirmed to be positive for COVID-19 and later died. Contact tracing of 88 people was done, and no secondary cases found.
On 17 June 2021 , a second confirmed case was detected at Nzérékoré Regional Hospital, this case was from Beyla prefecture and died the same day. A listing of 111 contacts have been done for follow up.
A dignified and secure burial of the body was conducted by the Red Cross under the supervision of the provincial health department on 18 June 2021.
Other public health actions taken include the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance; sensitization of health workers and community members on the definitions of cases of Lassa fever and other epidemic prone-diseases.
Lassa fever, a zoonotic, acute viral illness is endemic in parts of West Africa including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria.
Africa: Guinea Ebola outbreak declared over
Ebola: Safe and dignified burials
Lassa virus vaccine trial in Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone
Africa: Increase in visceral leishmaniasis cases reported in Chad
Ethiopia: Some 200 unknown disease related to camels reported
