Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Facebook Instagram Threads
    Global BiodefenseGlobal Biodefense
    Subscribe
    • Featured News
    • Funding
    • Directory
    • Jobs
    • Events
    Global BiodefenseGlobal Biodefense
    Infectious Diseases

    British Nationals Evacuated from Sierra Leone for Lassa Fever Contact Monitoring

    By Global Biodefense StaffNovember 24, 2019
    Lassa Fever Outbreak Investigation
    Lassa Fever Outbreak Investigation. Credit CDC
    Share
    Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Email

    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.

    Public Health England (PHE) said three British people who had stayed in Sierra Leone and had close contact with the Dutch pair had been repatriated to be medically assessed and treated, if required. The agency has also got in touch with 15 other British nationals who had contact with the pair to monitor them.

    Lassa fever is an animal-borne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness. It is endemic in parts of West Africa including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria.

    According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 infections of Lassa fever occur annually, with approximately 5,000 deaths. Surveillance for Lassa fever is not standardized; therefore, these estimates are crude. In some areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia, it is known that 10-16% of people admitted to hospitals annually have Lassa fever, demonstrating the serious impact the disease has on the region.

    Read more at The Guardian

    Epidemiology Lassa Fever Select Agents
    Share. Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Email
    Previous ArticlePakistan First Country to Introduce New Typhoid Vaccine to Fight Resistant Strain
    Next Article Inflammatix Wins BARDA Backing for Diagnostic to Rapidly Distinguish Bacterial from Viral Infections

    Related Stories

    Provide Feedback on Federal DURC Biosafety Oversight of Potential Pandemic Pathogens

    September 24, 2023

    New Method Improves Quantification of Ricin in Complex Matrices

    September 20, 2023

    The Basics on the Nipah Virus Outbreak in India

    September 19, 2023

    Field Detection of Botulinum Neurotoxin with Acoustic Wave Sensors

    September 15, 2023
    News Scan

    Biodefense Headlines – 19 September 2023

    News Scan September 19, 2023

    News highlights on health security threats and countermeasures curated by Global Biodefense This week’s selections include a global survey of gain-of-function research; funding of an mRNA mpox vaccine; Nipah virus outbreak in India; field detection of threat agents with acoustic…

    Upcoming Events

    Oct 3
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    October 3 - October 5

    OneLab Summit 2023

    Oct 3
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT

    Public-Private Partnerships to Distribute, Dispense, and Administer Medical Countermeasures

    Oct 4
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    10:00 am - 2:00 pm EDT

    Tunneling Nanotubes and Intracellular Protrusions Workshop

    Oct 12
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT

    Public-Private Partnerships for Acceptance and Uptake of Medical Countermeasures

    View Calendar

    Subscribe to Global Biodefense

    Get the latest news on pathogens and preparedness

    © 2023 Stemar Media Group LLC
    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Subscribe

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.