WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 10: 27 February to 5 March 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 5 March 2023
...
Ghana
Lassa Fever
14 Cases
1 Death
7.0% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
The Ministry of Health in Ghana notified two confirmed
cases of Lassa Fever on 24 February 2023 in the Greater
Accra Region. The index case is a 40-year-old female
trader resident of Ablekuma North Municipality in Greater
Accra Region. She initially consulted at a Municipality
Hospital on 4 February 2023 where she was managed as
an outpatient for general body pain and sore throat.
She again sought care at the same hospital on 13
February 2023 with a generalised body rash, respiratory
distress, and inability to walk with no improvement. She
was referred to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH)
on 16 February 2023 where she died within five hours
of admission. Laboratory tests done at the Noguchi
Memorial Institute for Medical Research on the ante and
post-mortem blood samples turned positive for acute
hemorrhagic Fever.
The second case is a 33-year-old female healthcare
worker who was part of the team that attended to the index
case at the KBTH on 17 February 2023. She developed
sore throat on 20 February and reportedly visited a
private hospital for care. She subsequently developed
fever, headache, loss of appetite, intense fatigue and
joint pain. Blood samples taken for VHF testing on 23
February 2023 and tested positive for Lassa Fever.
As of 28 February 2023, a total of 14 confirmed cases
of Lassa Fever and one death (CFR: 7.0%) were notified
from three districts namely Weija Gbawe, Tema West and
Accra Metropolitan with the majority in Accra. Most of the
cases 9 (64%) are females and 50 % of all confirmed
cases are between 26 to 35 years.
In total, 110 contacts of confirmed cases have been
identified across four districts, namely Weija Gbawe
(49), Ablekuma North (40), Accra Metro (12), and Tema
West (9). Of 84 contacts with confirmed cases tested, 12
(14.3%) turned positive for Lassa fever and seven among
the positive cases were healthcare workers.
In-depth epidemiological and environmental
investigations are ongoing to identify the source of this
outbreak. Preliminary investigations suggest no travel
history outside of Accra for the two cases. The environment
assessment focuses mainly on a local market, which was
visited by the index case. This market serves as a hub for
yam trade and is noted for rodent infestation.
Outbreaks of Lassa Fever are uncommon in Ghana, with
the last outbreak occurring in 2012 in the Ashanti Region
with two confirmed cases registered.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
The National and Regional Public Health Emergency
Operational Center has been activated, and the
regional and district Public Health Emergency
Management Committee are active in affected
regions and districts.
The Ministry of Health issued a press release to
update the public on the current situation of Lass
Fever in Ghana
Compilation of Emergency Preparedness Plan of all
thematic groups is ongoing
Epidemiological investigation activities are ongoing,
including the deployment of the rapid response
teams in all affected districts.
Review of health records at the facility level, contact
tracing and follow up and sensitisation of health care
workers to improve case detection and in-depth
investigation are underway.
Multisectoral environmental assessments are ongoing
Mobilization of logistics and consumables activities
are ongoing.
All cases are being managed at a national isolation
facility, and clinicians have been sensitised on case
management.
Healthcare workers have been sensitised on IPC
measures and there is the strict adherence to of IPC
measures in health facilities Risk communication
and community engagement activities are
ongoing, including revision and dissemination of
communication materials on Lassa Fever.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
After eight days of notification of the first two cases of
Lassa fever on 24 February 2023, additional 12 cases
have been confirmed. Most of the confirmed cases were
known contacts of confirmed cases. The high number
of reported confirmed cases among healthcare workers
highlights the urgent need to strengthen IPC measures in
health facilities. In addition, the current outbreak setting
is linked to highly populated areas which may contribute
to the rapid spread of the outbreak. Epidemiological
investigations, including the environmental assessment,
should be fastened to identify the source of the outbreak
and put in place necessary public health actions to avoid
its spreads to other regions.
...
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/366418/OEW10-270205032023.pdf
️PRESS RELEASE 
