Lassa fever historical perspective
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ammu Susheela, M.D. [2]
Synonyms and keywords: Lassa hemorrhagic fever; LHF
Overview
Lassa fever caused by Arenaviridae is an acute viral illness that has been reported at first in West Africa. Although there has been sero-epidemeological evidence of Lassa fever in 1930's-1950's, the first case was reported in 1969 from Nigeria.
Historical Perspective
- In 1955-1956, epidemics with clinical and epidemiological resemblance to Lassa fever were reported in Eastern Province and Sierra Leone.
- The first case of documented Lassa fever was reported in 1969 following the death of 2 nurses in Lassa, Nigeria.[1] Prior to that, similar cases in West Africa were reported and thought to be caused by Lassa fever given the clinical and epidemiological resemblance of the presentation to Lassa fever.
- Administration of ribavirin for the treatment of Lassa fever was first introduced by Joe McCormick in 1979.
- Lassa fever is uncommon outside West Africa, and fewer than 10 patients with Lassa fever have historically been hospitalized in USA.
References
- ↑ Monath TP (1975). "Lassa fever: review of epidemiology and epizootiology". Bull World Health Organ. 52 (4–6): 577–92. PMC 2366662. PMID 782738.
- ↑ "Public Health Image Library (PHIL), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- Lassa fever history".