Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 104, Issue 1 , Pages 51-54, January 2010

Prevention of Lassa fever in Nigeria

  • Ute Inegbenebor

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.
    • ,
  • John Okosun

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical and Health Education, Faculty of Education, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
    • ,
  • Josephine Inegbenebor

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical and Health Education, Faculty of Education, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria

Received 2 February 2009; received in revised form 13 July 2009; accepted 14 July 2009.

Summary 

Although specific treatment is available for Lassa fever, early diagnosis is still difficult in most Nigerian primary and secondary health centers. This study was carried out to compare the case-fatality rates of Lassa fever and other medical diseases commonly seen in adult medical wards, to determine the community habits that make Lassa fever endemic in Edo Central District of Nigeria, with the aim of prescribing preventive measures for its control in Nigeria. The records of 908 inpatients in the adult medical wards of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua and responses from respondents interviewed by trained interviewers on their knowledge, attitudes and practices pertaining to Lassa fever were used for this study. The case-fatality rate of Lassa fever in this center was 28%. Cultural factors and habits were found to favor endemicity of Lassa fever in Edo Central District of Nigeria. Preventive measures were prescribed for families and communities.

Keywords: Lassa fever, Prevention, Case-fatality rate, Endemicity, Knowledge, Attitudes and practices, Nigeria

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PII: S0035-9203(09)00234-X

doi:10.1016/j.trstmh.2009.07.008

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 104, Issue 1 , Pages 51-54, January 2010

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