The Ghana Health Service has announced that it has confirmed 14 cases of Lassa fever in the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday 2nd March, 2023, the GHANA Medical Association (GMA) stated that the affected individuals included some doctors and other health workers exposed in their line of duty.
The GMA stated that while it acknowledges measures being put in place to trace their contacts and contain the virus from spreading further, it is also “facilitating the provision of psychological support to the colleagues confirmed with the disease,” and counselled the public to take precautionary measures.
“The virus spreads to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated with the urine or faeces of mice. It also spreads from one person to the other through direct contact with bodily fluids e.g. urine, blood, faeces or contaminated clothes and beddings of an infected person.
“This risk of spread among health professionals is high when Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols are not adhered to during the care of patients.”
According to the World Health Organization, Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses.
The early symptoms of Lassa fever are non-specific and usually includes fever, general malaise, weakness, and headache.
Other signs may include sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and abdominal pain.
