A challenging response to a Lassa fever outbreak in a non endemic area of Sierra Leone in 2019 with export of cases to The Netherlands
ABSTRACT: Introduction: On November 20, 2019, the Sierra Leone International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point was notified of an exported case of Lassa fever in The Netherlands, by a Dutch doctor who previously practiced in a rural hospital in Sierra Leone. This report describes the ex...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-04-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971222000960 |
| _version_ | 1819174658675572736 |
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| author | Charles Njuguna Mohamed Vandi Evans Liyosi Jane Githuku Alie Wurie Ian Njeru Philomena Raftery Claudette Amuzu Anna Maruta Robert Musoke Mukeh Fahnbulleh Joseph Bunting Simeon Gbandeh Ambrose Talisuna Zabulon Yoti |
| author_facet | Charles Njuguna Mohamed Vandi Evans Liyosi Jane Githuku Alie Wurie Ian Njeru Philomena Raftery Claudette Amuzu Anna Maruta Robert Musoke Mukeh Fahnbulleh Joseph Bunting Simeon Gbandeh Ambrose Talisuna Zabulon Yoti |
| author_sort | Charles Njuguna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT: Introduction: On November 20, 2019, the Sierra Leone International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point was notified of an exported case of Lassa fever in The Netherlands, by a Dutch doctor who previously practiced in a rural hospital in Sierra Leone. This report describes the extent of the outbreak, possible sources of infection, and the outbreak response measures taken. Methods: Response measures implemented to control the outbreak included coordination across multiple countries and cities, outbreak investigation, active case finding, contact tracing and monitoring, laboratory investigation, and isolation and treatment of cases. Results: We report a hospital-associated outbreak that resulted in 3 confirmed cases (health workers) and 2 probable cases (patients). The case fatality rate was 60%, whereas the secondary attack rate was 14%. Two cases involved exportations to The Netherlands. Failure to detect the index case and poor adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols contributed to disease spread. Pregnancy status and nonspecific signs and symptoms of the index case contributed to failure in early case detection. Conclusions: Rapid activation of national and subnational incident management systems resulted in rapid outbreak control. We recommend regular training for clinicians on surveillance and IPC protocols and strengthening in-country Lassa virus diagnostic capacity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T20:42:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c76e4088e5b142f392393b482bc581ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1201-9712 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T20:42:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-c76e4088e5b142f392393b482bc581ce2022-12-21T18:13:18ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases1201-97122022-04-01117295301A challenging response to a Lassa fever outbreak in a non endemic area of Sierra Leone in 2019 with export of cases to The NetherlandsCharles Njuguna0Mohamed Vandi1Evans Liyosi2Jane Githuku3Alie Wurie4Ian Njeru5Philomena Raftery6Claudette Amuzu7Anna Maruta8Robert Musoke9Mukeh Fahnbulleh10Joseph Bunting11Simeon Gbandeh12Ambrose Talisuna13Zabulon Yoti14World Health Organization Country office, Sierra Leone; Corresponding Author. Charles Njuguna. World Health Organization Country office, 21 A & B Riverside Drive, off King Harman Road, Brookfield, Freetown, Sierra LeoneSierra Leone Ministry of Health and SanitationWorld Health Organization Country office, Sierra LeoneWorld Health Organization Country office, Sierra LeoneSierra Leone Ministry of Health and SanitationWorld Health Organization Country office, Sierra LeoneWorld Health Organization Country office, Sierra LeoneWorld Health Organization Country office, Sierra LeoneWorld Health Organization Country office, Sierra LeoneWorld Health Organization Country office, Sierra LeoneSierra Leone Ministry of Health and SanitationSierra Leone Ministry of Health and SanitationSierra Leone Ministry of Health and SanitationWorld Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, BrazzavilleWorld Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, BrazzavilleABSTRACT: Introduction: On November 20, 2019, the Sierra Leone International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point was notified of an exported case of Lassa fever in The Netherlands, by a Dutch doctor who previously practiced in a rural hospital in Sierra Leone. This report describes the extent of the outbreak, possible sources of infection, and the outbreak response measures taken. Methods: Response measures implemented to control the outbreak included coordination across multiple countries and cities, outbreak investigation, active case finding, contact tracing and monitoring, laboratory investigation, and isolation and treatment of cases. Results: We report a hospital-associated outbreak that resulted in 3 confirmed cases (health workers) and 2 probable cases (patients). The case fatality rate was 60%, whereas the secondary attack rate was 14%. Two cases involved exportations to The Netherlands. Failure to detect the index case and poor adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols contributed to disease spread. Pregnancy status and nonspecific signs and symptoms of the index case contributed to failure in early case detection. Conclusions: Rapid activation of national and subnational incident management systems resulted in rapid outbreak control. We recommend regular training for clinicians on surveillance and IPC protocols and strengthening in-country Lassa virus diagnostic capacity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971222000960Lassa FeverOutbreakSierra LeoneHospital-Associated Infection |
| spellingShingle | Charles Njuguna Mohamed Vandi Evans Liyosi Jane Githuku Alie Wurie Ian Njeru Philomena Raftery Claudette Amuzu Anna Maruta Robert Musoke Mukeh Fahnbulleh Joseph Bunting Simeon Gbandeh Ambrose Talisuna Zabulon Yoti A challenging response to a Lassa fever outbreak in a non endemic area of Sierra Leone in 2019 with export of cases to The Netherlands International Journal of Infectious Diseases Lassa Fever Outbreak Sierra Leone Hospital-Associated Infection |
| title | A challenging response to a Lassa fever outbreak in a non endemic area of Sierra Leone in 2019 with export of cases to The Netherlands |
| title_full | A challenging response to a Lassa fever outbreak in a non endemic area of Sierra Leone in 2019 with export of cases to The Netherlands |
| title_fullStr | A challenging response to a Lassa fever outbreak in a non endemic area of Sierra Leone in 2019 with export of cases to The Netherlands |
| title_full_unstemmed | A challenging response to a Lassa fever outbreak in a non endemic area of Sierra Leone in 2019 with export of cases to The Netherlands |
| title_short | A challenging response to a Lassa fever outbreak in a non endemic area of Sierra Leone in 2019 with export of cases to The Netherlands |
| title_sort | challenging response to a lassa fever outbreak in a non endemic area of sierra leone in 2019 with export of cases to the netherlands |
| topic | Lassa Fever Outbreak Sierra Leone Hospital-Associated Infection |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971222000960 |
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