The Guinea Ministry of Health reported Wednesday (computer translated) on the first Lassa fever case/death in a resident in more than two decades.

Guinea map Image/CIA
Guinea map
Image/CIA

The Guinea resident sought out medical care in Liberia in early January and died and was buried in Liberia soon after.

The Guinea government says they are investigating the case and 28 contacts are being monitored, to date all are remain asymptomatic and Lassa testing has proved negative.

Nigeria: Upsurge in Lassa fever cases and deaths since the start of 2018 is of concern

Lassa virus, a member of the virus family Arenaviridae, is a single-stranded RNA virus, and is zoonotic, or animal-borne that can be transmitted to humans. The illness, which occurs in West Africa, was discovered in 1969 when two missionary nurses died in Nigeria, West Africa.In areas of Africa where the disease is endemic (that is, constantly present), Lassa fever is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. While Lassa fever is mild or has no observable symptoms in about 80% of people infected with the virus, the remaining 20% have a severe multisystem disease. Lassa fever is also associated with occasional epidemics, during which the case-fatality rate can reach 50%.

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There are a number of ways in which the virus may be transmitted, or spread, to humans. The Mastomys rodents shed the virus in urine and droppings. Therefore, the virus can be transmitted through direct contact with these materials, through touching objects or eating food contaminated with these materials, or through cuts or sores. Because Mastomys rodents often live in and around homes and scavenge on human food remains or poorly stored food, transmission of this sort is common. Contact with the virus also may occur when a person inhales tiny particles in the air contaminated with rodent excretions. This is called aerosol or airborne transmission. Finally, because Mastomys rodents are sometimes consumed as a food source, infection may occur via direct contact when they are caught and prepared for food.

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