Guinea - Lassa fever 2021

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Urgent Guinea: a case of Lassa fever reported in Yomou ...

NZEREKORE-We just found out! A case of Lassa fever has just been declared in a forest region, hit by an Ebola epidemic whose epicenter is in N'Z?r?kor?, Africaguinee.com learned from health sources.

A woman tested positive for lassa hemorrhagic fever in Yomou Prefecture. Thirty contacts have been identified. They are being followed when patient zero is said to have already died, we learned.

Lassa fever is a lightning haemorrhagic fever caused by an arenavirus called Lassa virus, similar to Ebola virus disease. In 2020, it had killed more than 100 people in Nigeria, especially in the city of Lagos.

The contagious disease arises as the 42-day countdown to declare the end of the Ebola epidemic is underway.

We will come back to that!

A dispatch from Siddy Koudara Diallo

For Africaguinee.com

https://www.africaguinee.com/articles/2021/05/17/urgent-guinee-un-cas-de-fievre-lassa-signale-yomou

 

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Response to Lassa fever in Yomou: Minister R?my reassures and talks about the measures taken

Through Mady Bangoura -Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 11:11 am0840

As Guinea faces other epidemics, Lassa fever has just emerged in Yomou prefecture where it has claimed one victim. Invited in the Mirador program on Fim FM radio this Tuesday, May 18, 2021, the Minister of Health first recalled that this disease is not at its first appearance in Guinea.

?It is an endemic disease that often appears in several West African countries and generally affects around 100 to 300 people per year. In the case of Yomou, there was the vigilance of the nursing staff. When they received this information, the patients who presented the signs that respond to the hemorrhagic fever diseases, the arrangements were made, ?said Physician-General R?my Lamah while adding that the deceased unfortunately arrived at the hospital then. that his illness had reached a worrying stage.

Continuing his communication, the guest of Fim FM said that the samples were taken, including one in N'Z?r?kor? and another sample was sent to Conakry for confirmation or denial of the diagnosis.

?So the two examinations carried out gave consistent results that it was Lassa virus hemorrhagic fever. To date, there have been no new contacts. And all the contacts are now well followed at the level of the prefectural hospital of Yomou ?, he reassured.

Measures taken to contain this new epidemic

When asked what measures his department has taken to contain the disease in its area of ??occurrence, General R?my Lamah cited the follow-up and surveillance of all the contacts that have been identified. According to him, it would be 19 contacts out of the 27 identified. And that the others are sought after through their families.

"For the moment, things are going perfectly well," says the Minister of Health.

Demarcation between Lassa and Ebola

According to Minister Lamah, Lassa virus hemorrhagic fever has roughly the same symptoms as Ebola virus; the only difference residing more in the case fatality rate.

?For Lassa fever, symptoms start 6 to 21 days after infection. You have fever, vomiting, nausea, headache and stomach ache. But it is not as dangerous as Ebola hemorrhagic fever. On the contrary, it is endemic. That is to say, it appears in specific places and at given times, unlike the Ebola epidemic, ?explained Physician-General R?my Lamah.

Means of transmission

According to the minister, Lassa fever is caused by small rodents, little mice that generally live near the forest and which often can be found in homes. Hence the need for hygiene in homes. And these little rodents can leave liquids. Once humans touch these liquids, they can become contaminated.

"This is why when sick people are identified, we must be wary of anything that is liquid (urine or blood) which constitutes sources of contagion," said the guest of Mirador while reassuring that he did not there is no panic on board.

https://www.guineenews.org/riposte-...tre-remy-rassure-et-parle-des-mesures-prises/

 

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 21: 17-23 May 2021
Data as reported by: 17:00; 23 May 2021
...

Lassa fever Guinea

1 Case
1 Death
100% CFR

A confirmed case of Lassa fever was notified on 8 May 2021 at
the Yomou prefecture hospital. The patient was also confirmed
to be positive for COVID-19 and later died. To date, 21 May
2021, no new suspected cases of Lassa haemorrhagic fever have
been reported. However, the prefecture of Bheeta is regarded as
active, with the prefectures of Yomou-Centre, Péla, Yomou and
Bignamou on alert. Over the same period, there have been 12
community deaths, none of which received a safe and dignified
burial.

There are 27 contacts still within the follow-up period as of 21
May 2021, of whom 15 (56.0%) have been actively followed-up.
There were 102 (66.0%) health facility alerts of consultations for
febrile illness on 21 May 2021, out of a total of 154 consultations.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Daily coordination meetings are held in Yomou prefecture.
The social mobilization team were briefed on awareness
raising in the community of Péla.

Contacts continue to be followed-up at the Yomou prefecture
hospital, as well as management of alerts.

Infection prevention and control (IPC) activities are being
evaluated at the Yomou hospital.

An assessment of the need for access to and distribution of
handwashing kits is being carried out, as well as discussions
with the Guinea Red Cross on possibilities of support for the
district.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

Lassa fever is endemic in Guinea and surrounding countries, so
cases are not unexpected. However, this case comes in the context
of a recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease and the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, the case patient was co-infected
with Lassa fever and COVID-19. There is continuing resistance
from the village of Béméyé to response activities, including
investigating and responding to alerts, contact follow-up and
sampling of suspected cases. Logistical difficulties include a lack
of fuel for investigation of alerts and for the ambulance. Fuel is
also lacking for health facility generators and the solar systems
are not working. Funds are not available for daily reporting
of surveillance data from community health workers and
health facility surveillance focal points and there is inadequate
involvement of community action groups in community-based
surveillance. These issues and challenges need urgently to be
addressed by local authorities and partners to prevent a larger
outbreak of this disease.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/341457/OEW21-1723052021.pdf

 

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Lassa fever in Guinea: the Minister of Health takes stock

Posted by Tidjane Diallo June 22, 2021 at 1:04 PM

Guinea is hard at work to defeat Lassa fever which has appeared in the forest region for a few months. After announcing the end of the Ebola virus epidemic, the Ministry of Health has now set itself the main objective of eradicating this other epidemic, lassa fever, which is raging in Beyla prefecture in the N'Zérékoré region.

During the official ceremony to end the Ebola virus epidemic on June 19 in the Forest region, General Rémy Lamah announced that no lassa fever patient is found at the N'Zérékoré CTEPI: "We had a case that arose in Yomou, but with the expertise we had in this area, the management was quickly done. But it should be said that before that there was one case of death linked to this epidemic. And it was after that that this first contact was tested and the result was positive. So the patient's follow-up was well done and he came out cured. We were informed on Friday that a new case came from Beyla. He also tested positive but that did not prevent sending another sample to Conakry for further confirmation. But what I can tell you, the patient is there, he is being followed and he is out of danger, ”he said.

Continuing his speech, the Minister of Health warns: " how lucky we are with Lassa fever, management is very easy, and we had very effective molecules which are sensitive to this virus. Almost every year we have sporadic cases of either one or two cases of Lassa fever and we manage to manage. And what should be remembered, as long as we continue to attack the ecosystem, we will always be within reach of these epidemics ”he concluded.

https://www.guinee360.com/22/06/2021/fievre-lassa-en-guinee-le-ministre-de-la-sante-fait-le-point/

 

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 27: 28 June - 04 July 2021
Data as reported by: 17:00; 04 July 2021

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Lassa Fever Guinea

2 Cases
2 Deaths
100% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The first case of Lassa fever was notified to the Guinea health
authorities on 8 May 2021 at the Yomou prefecture hospital. This
was in a 23-year-old male resident of Yomou Prefecture who was
identified on 3 May 2021 as an Ebola virus disease suspect, but later
tested negative. On 7 May 2021, his clinical condition worsened,
prompting the healthcare team to undertake more laboratory
investigations, including; Lassa fever, yellow fever, COVID-19, and
Marburg. She suffered respiratory distress and multi-organ failure
and died on 7 May 2021. Laboratory results confirmed her positive
for Lassa fever and Covid-19 on 8 May 2021. Contact tracing and
follow-up of 88 people was done, and no secondary cases found.

The second confirmed case was detected at N’zérékoré Regional
Hospital on 17 June 2020. This was in a 65 years old woman
identified on 15 June 2021 as a suspected Ebola case. She was
a resident of Beyla prefecture and died on the same day. This
alert was notified to the district core team the same day and
laboratory samples were collected for confirmation. Laboratory
results confirmed her positive for Lassa fever and negative for
Ebola and Covid-19 on 17 June 2021 after her death. A total of
111 contacts (54 at Beyla and 57 at N’zérékoré) has been listed
for follow up. Currently, Bheeta prefecture is regarded as active,
while the prefectures of Yomou-Centre, Péla, Yomou and Bignamou
remain on alert. Since the beginning of 2021, there has been two
confirmed cases, of which both died (Case Fatality Ratio=100%).

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Health authorities informed the political, administrative, and
municipal authorities about the confirmation of Lassa fever
outbreak in Guinea.

A rapid response team was deployed to carry out a detailed
investigation at the family of the deceased. In addition,
condolences were presented, and the family was given
information, and sensitized on Lassa fever mode of
transmission and necessary precautionary measures.

Dignified and secure burial of the body was conducted by
the Red Cross under the supervision of the provincial health
department on 18 June 2021

Listing of contacts and contacts tracking was done.

Strengthening of epidemiological surveillance; sensitization of
health workers and community members on the definitions of
cases of Lassa fever and other epidemic prone-diseases.

Sensitization of communities in Beyla district on hand washing
practices is ongoing.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

Lassa fever, a zoonotic, acute viral illness is endemic in parts of
West Africa including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria.
The investigation results confirmed two cases on Lassa fever in
N’zérékoré and Beyla prefectures of Guinea. Currently, no secondary
case has been notified. Response activities towards this outbreak
are still underway. The local and national authorities need to remain
vigilant on this event in the wake of the shifting priorities to other
health emergencies, particularly COVID-19 pandemic.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/342386/OEW27-280604072021.pdf

 

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Lassa fever: Dr Sakoba recommends raising cats to eradicate the disease

Guinea

CONAKRY-In addition to covid-19, Guinea has also been hit by an epidemic of Lassa fever since mid-May 2021. Well to eradicate this disease, close to Ebola, the Director General of the National Agency for health security recommended, Tuesday July 06, to Guineans to breed cats.

For Dr Sakoba Keita, “the preventive measure is difficult against Lassa fever because it is linked to the behavior of our fellow citizens, it is in their habits. It's hard to change that, ”he said.

This is why he believes, the best fight against this disease is to fight against mice because, by fighting against these mice, "we could avoid this disease", hammered Dr Sakoba Keita.

The other factor that causes the spread of this disease is leaving food uncovered in homes. “Mice are attracted to these foods. When they are thrown away, the rest of this food, the children come to touch it, they will become infected and catch the disease ”explained the DG of the ANSS.

Even if these mouse species were not observed in Lower Guinea unlike in Forest Guinea, he appealed to his fellow citizens.

“So I would like you to help us so that the fight against these mice is very developed. I even said, if necessary, we can import cats from one area to another. We want, in the long run, the behavior of raising cats to be practiced. We should even encourage people to keep cats in their homes to fight against the disease and avoid the harmful effects of these mice, ”suggested Dr Sakoba Keita.

It should be remembered that it was on May 17, 2021 that the health authorities of Guinea officially announced a fatal case of Lassa hemorrhagic fever in the Nzérékoré region. Since that date, the country has recorded 4 cases including two deaths.

Siddy Koundara Diallo

For Africaguinee.com
...

Created on Wednesday 07 July 2021 at 9:09

https://www.africaguinee.com/articl...-d-elever-des-chats-pour-eradiquer-la-maladie

 

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 39: 20 - 26 September 2021
Data as reported by: 17:00; 26 September 2021

...
Guinea Lassa Fever Ungraded 8-May-21 8-May-21 20-Sep-21
Total cases 8
Cases Confirmed 8
Deaths 7
87.50% CFR

To date, there have been a total of 8 confirmed cases and 7 deaths (CFR=87.5%): the first case (man of 23 years old) was notified on 8 May 2021 at the Yomou
prefecture hospital, a resident of Yomou prefecture. The patient was also confirmed to be positive for COVID-19 and later died. Contact tracing of 88 people was done,
and no secondary cases found. On 17 June 2021, a second confirmed case (woman of 75 years old) was detected at Nzérékoré Regional Hospital, this case was from
Beyla prefecture and died the same day. A listing of 111 contacts have been done for follow up. On 28 June 2021 a third case was confirmed (man of 25 years old), a
resident of Nzerekore prefecture, 57 contacts listed are under follow up. On 1 Jul 2021 a fourth case was confirmed (a man of 52 years old), resident also of Nzerekore
prefecture, a listing of 21 contacts was done and are being followed. However, the prefecture of Bheeta is regarded as active, with the prefectures of Yomou-Centre,
Péla, Yomou and Bignamou on alert. The last case ( female 9 years old) from Faranah health district detected on 14 Sept has been confirmed on 19 Sep 2021 by the
Gueckerou laboratory and died the same day
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https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/345479/OEW39-2026092021.pdf