Lassa fever outbreak in Ghana is over
Ghana declares end to Lassa fever epidemic
The Director-General of Ghana Health Services (GHS), Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, has announced that the Lassa fever epidemic, which emerged in the capital city Accra in March this year, has ended. Kuma-Aboagye confirmed that all individuals who were treated during the epidemic have recovered and been discharged. However, he also warned residents to avoid possible disease spread by avoiding direct and indirect contact with people who may be infected with Lassa fever or any other contagious disease. Regular hand-washing is also recommended to prevent infections.
According to the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO), an epidemic can only be declared over if there are no new cases detected in the region for 42 days. In March, GHS announced that there were 26 cases recorded in the country.
Lassa virus, which causes bleeding disease, comes from the same family as Ebola and Marburg viruses, although it is milder. It is found in West Africa and transmitted to humans through contact with rodent urine or faeces, contaminated food or household items. The virus can also spread between people through an infected person’s blood, urine, faeces or bodily secretions. Infected persons may experience fever, weakness, headache, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Bleeding may occur in severe cases, including in the gums, eyes or nose.
Lassa fever, which was first identified in Lassa, Nigeria in 1969, is common in many African countries, such as Mali, Togo, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Frequent outbreaks of the disease have been recorded in Nigeria, and one person in the UK died of Lassa fever in February.
