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Sierra Leone - Dutch tropical doctor died from lassa fever, second doctor infected - November 24, 2019

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  • Sierra Leone - Dutch tropical doctor died from lassa fever, second doctor infected - November 24, 2019

    24 11 2019

    The Dutch tropical doctor who had been infected with the lassa virus in Sierra Leone died last night. Minister Bruins of Ministry of Health reported this in a letter.

    The minister also announced that a second doctor was infected with lassa fever. That is also a Dutchman who contracted the virus while working in the West African country. After arriving at Schiphol, he was immediately taken by ambulance to the Emergency Hospital in the UMC in Utrecht. That hospital has special facilities and was previously used for patients with Ebola in 2014.

    The lassa virus is spread by rodents and mainly occurs in western Africa. If a patient receives antiviral drugs on time, the disease can be treated well.

    It was announced on Wednesday that the doctor who has now died was repatriated to the Netherlands. He has since been in isolation at the Leiden University Medical Center.
    Dat meldt minister Bruins voor Medische Zorg in een brief.?De arts was in Sierra Leone geweest.
    ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
    Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

    ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

  • #2


    Three Britons brought back from Sierra Leone
    Sun 24 Nov 2019 08.28 EST

    Three British nationals have been brought back to the UK from Sierra Leone for medical assessment after coming into close contact with two people diagnosed with Lassa fever.

    One of the two Dutch nationals who contracted the virus, whose symptoms are similar to Ebola, while working in the west African country has died.

    more...


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    • #3
      Source: https://www.who.int/csr/don/27-novem...erra_leone/en/

      Lassa Fever – The Netherlands (ex –Sierra Leone)

      Disease outbreak news
      28 November 2019

      Sierra Leone health officials, supported by WHO, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other partners, are responding to an outbreak of Lassa fever.
      On 20 November 2019, WHO was informed by The Netherlands’ International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point of one imported case of Lassa fever from Sierra Leone. The patient was a male doctor, a Dutch national who worked in a rural Masanga hospital in Tonkolili district, Northern province in Sierra Leone.
      The probable route of transmission is believed to be through exposures during a surgical procedure he performed on two patients in Masanga hospital on 4 November 2019. Both patients died following surgical interventions; one died on 4 November and the second on 19 November 2019. Both surgical patients are considered probable cases and the patient who died on the 4 November is believed to be the index case for this outbreak, who was likely the source of infection of the Dutch doctor.
      The onset of the doctor’s symptoms started on 11 November, a week after performing the surgery, and included malaise and headache, followed by fever, diarrhoea, vomiting and cough. While symptomatic, he attended a surgical training event in Freetown, Sierrra Leone on 11-12 November. This event was also attended by several international participants from the Netherlands and United Kingdom, in addition to 35 local participants. On 19 November, the symptomatic doctor was medically evacuated to The Netherlands after he did not respond to treatment with antimalarials and antibiotics. The evacuation was managed by a dedicated ambulance plane with four staff from a German organization. During the journey, the plane stopped in Morocco (Agadir Airport). As the illness was initially thought to be malaria or typhoid fever, personal protective equipment, other than gloves were not used and no specific containment procedures were used during the medical evacuation.
      Laboratory specimens from the patient tested positive for Lassa fever by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing at Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam on 20 November 2019.
      The patient died on the night of 23 November 2019.
      On 22 November 2019, WHO was informed of a second laboratory confirmed case of Lassa fever in another Dutch health care worker, who also worked in the Masanga hospital. Samples from this second case were sent to the Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam and tested positive for Lassa fever by PCR. The second case also participated in one of the surgical procedures performed by the medically evacuated Dutch doctor. The date of onset of symptoms of the second case was 11 November and was subsequently medically evacuated in high containment isolation to the Netherlands and is currently under treatment. Isolation precautions have been implemented.
      The Masanga hospital in Sierra Leone, where the Dutch doctor worked is supported by several non-governmental organizations, with international health care workers including staff from countries including Denmark, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom, alongside national health care workers.
      Contact tracing and monitoring activities have been initiated in these countries as required.
      Sierra Leone

      An outbreak investigation and response is ongoing under leadership of the Ministry of Health (MoH), supported by US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO. As of 24 November 2019, in addition to the two Dutch cases, two further cases among national health care workers, one confirmed and another suspected, were reported from Masanga hospital. Both health care workers were involved in the management of the two surgical patients operated by the Dutch doctor on 4 November. All high-risk contacts in Masanga hospital are being monitored.
      The Netherlands

      Several high and low risk contacts have been identified among personal contacts and health care workers. According to Dutch protocols, they will be monitored until 21 days after the last potential exposure. Five high-risk Dutch contacts who were in Sierra Leone have been repatriated through a dedicated flight and are now under monitoring. Dutch low risk contacts in Sierra Leone have been advised to perform self-monitoring in situ.
      Germany

      The four medical evacuation flight staff (two pilots and two health care workers) spent eight (8) flight hours in a confined space in the ambulance plane, without any barrier between the cockpit and cabin. They have been assessed as moderate level risk contacts. According to German recommendations, they are being monitored for 21 days following the last potential exposure on 19 November (until 10 December 2019).
      United Kingdom (UK)

      UK authorities have identified 18 UK nationals as contacts of the first Dutch case. Of these 18, eight are high risk contacts and were exposed in Masanga hospital while working alongside the doctor or possibly got exposed from the two patients he operated on 4 November. Of these eight high risk contacts, seven returned back to UK and one went to Uganda. Additionally, 13 UK nationals attended a surgical training event in Freetown, Sierra Leone on 11-12 November, which was also attended by the first Dutch case, while already symptomatic. Of these 13 participants, three came from Masanga hospital and belong to the above group of eight high risk contacts. The rest 10 participants were possibly exposed during the training and are considered low risk contacts. Of these 18 contacts identified (eight high risk and ten low risk contacts), 17 have returned back to UK and are under public health follow up for 21 days; one high risk contact went to Uganda. There were also several Dutch and 35 local participants who attended this event. UK authorities are in contact with the organizers and the names of participants from Sierra Leone and The Netherlands have been shared with respective National IHR Focal Points.
      Uganda

      One contact, a UK national, who may have been exposed in Masanga hospital on 15 November and subsequently travelled to Uganda on 16 November is now being followed up by the Uganda authorities, and the UK authorities are providing support remotely though public health and consular channels.



      The National IHR Focal Point of The Netherlands has also informed their counterpart in Morocco about the potential risk of exposure at the Agadir Airport. Morocco National IHR Focal Point confirmed that the investigation is conducted, and control measures have been implemented to ensure there was no transmission in Agadir.
      Sierra Leone is endemic for Lassa fever. Previously, sporadic cases have been exported to Europe from endemic countries in Africa, such as Togo, Liberia and Nigeria.
      In 2018, a total of 23 confirmed Lassa fever cases with 14 deaths (case fatality rate = 61%) were reported from two districts of Sierra Leone: Bo District (two cases with two deaths) and Kenema District (21 cases with 12 deaths).
      From 1 January through 17 November 2019, of the 182 suspected cases, ten (10) cases with six (6) deaths (case fatality ratio 60%) have been confirmed for Lassa virus infection. All confirmed cases during this period were reported from Kenema district; which has been reporting cases of Lassa fever every year.
      Public health response

      The International Health Regulations Focal Points and Health Authorities in Denmark, Germany, Morocco, The Netherlands, Sierra Leone, Uganda and the United Kingdom have been collaborating to share information about this event, together with the WHO and US CDC.
      Contact tracing and monitoring activities for 21 days following the last potential exposure have been initiated in Sierra Leone, Germany, The Netherlands, Uganda and the United Kingdom.
      Investigations are ongoing in Sierra Leone in Masanga hospital and surrounding areas in Tonkolili district with a deployment of a national rapid response team, supported by US CDC and WHO.
      WHO risk assessment

      Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever illness that is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces. Human-to-human infections and laboratory transmission can also occur through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, or other bodily secretions of a person with Lassa fever. The overall case fatality rate is 1%; it is 15% among patients hospitalized with severe illness.
      Sierra Leone is endemic for Lassa fever and sporadic cases have been exported to Europe from endemic countries in Africa, such as Togo, Liberia and Nigeria in recent years. However, in general, the secondary transmission of Lassa fever through human contacts is rare.
      Data from recent imported cases show that secondary transmission of Lassa fever is rare when standard infection control precautions are observed. Further, epidemiological investigations are ongoing: Human-to-human transmission occurs in both community and health-care settings, where the virus may spread by contaminated medical equipment. Health care workers are at risk if caring for Lassa fever patients in the absence of appropriate infection prevention and control measures. Considering the seasonal flare-ups of cases in humid zones between December and March, countries in West Africa that are endemic for Lassa fever are encouraged to strengthen their related surveillance systems.
      WHO advice

      Prevention of Lassa fever relies on community engagement and promoting hygienic conditions to discourage rodents from entering homes.
      There is currently no approved vaccine. Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival.
      Family members and health care workers should always be careful to avoid contact with blood and body fluids while caring for sick persons.
      According to WHO guidance for viral haemorrhagic fever, health care staff should consistently implement standard precautions when caring for all patients to prevent infections acquired in a health care setting and strictly apply contact precautions including isolation when caring for suspected or confirmed Lassa fever patients or handling their clinical specimens or body fluids. Standard precautions are meant to reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne and other pathogens from both recognized and unrecognized sources. Standard Precautions are recommended in the care and treatment of all patients regardless of their perceived or confirmed infectious status. They represent the basic fundamental level of infection prevention and control and include hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipments to avoid direct contact with blood and body fluids, prevention of needle stick and injuries from other sharp instruments, and a set of environmental controls. Sterilization and environmental cleaning should also be particularly strengthened and undergo quality control assessments.
      In order to avoid any direct contact with blood and body fluids and/or splashes onto facial mucosa (eyes, nose, mouth) when providing direct care for a patient with suspected or confirmed Lassa virus, personal protective equipment should include: 1) clean non-sterile gloves; 2) clean, non-sterile fluid-resistant gown; and 3) protection of facial mucosa against splashes (mask and eye protection, or a face shield). Given the nonspecific presentation of viral haemorrhagic fevers, isolation of ill travellers and consistent implementation of standard precautions are key to preventing secondary transmission. When consistently applied, these measures can prevent secondary transmission even if travel history information is not obtained, not immediately available, or the diagnosis of a viral haemorrhagic fever is delayed.
      WHO continues to advise all countries in the Lassa fever belt of the need to enhance early detection and treatment of cases to reduce the case fatality rate as well as strengthen cross-border collaboration.
      WHO advises against any restrictions on travel or trade to or from Sierra Leone based on the current available information.
      For more information on Lassa fever, please see the link below:

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      • #4
        Doctor treated with Lassafever in Berlin

        07.12.2019



        In Berlin, a woman with Lassafever has been hospitalized. The doctor landed at Berlin Airport. Since 1974, only seven cases of infectious disease in Germany are known.

        On the military part of the airport Berlin-Tegel, this Saturday, a doctor arrived who was probably ill with Lassafever. The woman was flown in from West African Sierra Leone , a spokesman for the fire department said. She was taken to the Charit?-Mitte hospital. Details on the woman were not available.

        The infectious disease, often transmitted through contaminated food, is usually mild, but in some cases it can trigger a life-threatening shock. The disease occurs according to Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in several countries in West Africa.

        According to projections, between 100,000 and 300,000 people are infected with the virus each year, of which one to two percent die. According to the RKI, seven cases of illness have been reported in Germany since 1974, six of which were imported.

        In Berlin ist eine Frau mit Lassafieber ins Krankenhaus eingeliefert worden. Die ?rztin landete auf dem Flughafen Berlin. Seit? 1974 sind nur sieben F?lle der Infektionskrankheit in Deutschland bekannt.
        ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
        Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

        ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

        Comment


        • #5
          Suspected Lassafever not confirmed

          dec 10 2019

          Berlin (dpa / bb) - For a Berlin doctor with suspicion of the tropical disease Lassafieber there is an all-clear. The woman, who had been in West Africa, had not been infected with the virus, said the Senate Department for Health on Tuesday, confirming media reports.

          The doctor had flown in from Sierra Leone on the military part of Tegel airport on Saturday and had been transferred to the Charit? epidemic station for clarification.
          ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
          Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

          ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

          Comment


          • #6
            Doctor infected with lassa fever discharged from UMC Utrecht

            dec 12 2019

            The Dutch doctor who was admitted to the calamity hospital of UMC Utrecht with a lasso fever was healed and released from the hospital, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) announced on Thursday.

            The doctor was infected with a Dutch colleague during work in a hospital in Sierra Leone. The other doctor had returned to the Netherlands earlier. He was repatriated on the night of 19 to 20 November and taken to the LUMC in Leiden, where he died a few days after his admission.

            The second patient was also repatriated and admitted to the hospital in Utrecht on November 23, because the safety measures for the previous patient in the LUMC placed a large burden on the available capacity.

            A few other Dutch care workers were also working in the hospital in Sierra Leone. The Dutch care providers who have had contact with the two infected doctors have also returned. The care provided in the hospital has been taken over by other doctors according to Minister Bruno Bruins (Medical Care).

            De Nederlandse arts die met lassakoorts was opgenomen in het calamiteitenhospitaal van het UMC Utrecht is genezen en uit het ziekenhuis ontslagen, zo heeft het Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM) donderdag bekendgemaakt.
            ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
            Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

            ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

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