Killer Virus ID'd In Africa May 30, 2009
Tests determined it belonged to the arenavirus family, and that it is distantly related to Lassa fever, another disease found in Africa. The drug ribavirin, which is given to Lassa victims, was given to the fifth Lujo virus patient - a Johannesburg nurse. (CBS News)
New killer virus found in Africa May 29, 2009
Tests determined it belonged to the arenavirus family, and that it is distantly related to Lassa fever, another disease found in Africa. Click for related content. (MSNBC -- International)
Nigeria: Fresh Outbreak of Lassa Fever [editorial] Apr 2, 2009
com: Nigeria: Fresh Outbreak of Lassa Fever (Page 1 of 1). Nigeria: Fresh Outbreak of Lassa Fever ... Lagos With the recent outbreak of Lassa fever, with its attendant casualties, Nigeria has again been reminded of its poor healthcare infrastructure and the dangers it poses to human lives existence. (allAfrica.com)
Polio spread drops by 80 per cent in 2009, says WHO Mar 30, 2009
He said the gains made in the 2008 Integrated Measles Campaign and the efforts to contain the recent outbreaks of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) and Lassa fever were testimonies to the Federal Government's resolve. In 2008, the WHO reported a nine-fold increase in new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) compared with the same period in 2007. (Guardian News, Nigeria)
Nigeria: Lassa Fever Caused By Black Rat -Ogunleye Mar 30, 2009
He prescribed environmental as well as personal hygienic therapy as a way of keeping Lassa fever at bay, in this interview with Snr Correspondent, Emma Maduabuchi ... Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever (a medical condition in which there is severe loss of blood from inside a person's body), what does that mean ... I mean that it is caused by a virus, and of course virus are of different categories, but talking of Lassa fever particularly, is in the class of diseases we call viral... (allAfrica.com)
Nigeria: Contending With Lassa Fever Scourge Mar 30, 2009
Lagos Lassa fever and Meningitis are twin ailments devastating Nigerian homes currently thus throwing a challenge to the nation's health authorities ... The village of Ewu in Edo State got a terrible scare recently, as Lassa fever, the dreaded disease that has been wrecking havoc across the nation, claimed the lives of loved ones in quick succession within weeks ... Kano State, one of the already affected states is complying: "We have embarked on a rigorous campaign on the radio to sensitise our... (allAfrica.com)
Gari, Bush Rat May Cause Lasser Fever Mar 21, 2009
PEOPLE who eat gari, a staple food in the country and bush rats run a high risk of contracting the dreaded Lassa fever, National Lassa fever Stakeholders' Forum of Nigeria disclosed yesterday ... He said the incidence of Lassa fever has reached a state of national emergency with 51 million people being at risk across the country and 3 million cases being reported in the country annually ... "Lassa fever accounts for at least 6 to15 per cent of fever in patients in endemic areas in the country.... (Guardian News, Nigeria)
Govt moves to avert measles' spread from Cameroun Mar 17, 2009
World Bank, WHO to fight Lassa fever From Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna), Chukwuma Muanya (Lagos) and Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin) ... Also, the World Bank and World Health Organisation (WHO) may have volunteered to assist Nigeria in its fight against the deadly but relatively unknown Lassa fever, which is said to affect up to three million Nigerians yearly. (Guardian News, Nigeria)
Nigeria: Lassa Fever - 51 Million Nigerians At Risk Mar 17, 2009
com: Nigeria: Lassa Fever - 51 Million Nigerians At Risk (Page 1 of 1). Nigeria: Lassa Fever - 51 Million Nigerians At Risk ... Benin More than 55 persons have so far died from the Lassa fever epidemic between January 2008 and February 2009 out of the over 390 patients admitted as a result of the illness. (allAfrica.com)
Nigeria: Health Minister Reassures on Lassa Fever Outbreak Mar 11, 2009
com: Nigeria: Osotimehin Reassures on Lassa Fever Outbreak (Page 1 of 1). Nigeria: Osotimehin Reassures on Lassa Fever Outbreak ... Babatunde Osotimehin has reassured Nigerians of the Federal Government's efforts to ensure that the Lassa Fever outbreak is checked and not allowed to spread further than it already has. (allAfrica.com)
SIGA Technologies to Discuss Year-End 2008 Results of Operations On March 12, 2009 Mar 10, 2009
SIGA has antiviral programs targeting smallpox and other Category A pathogens, including arenaviruses (Lassa fever, Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, Sabia, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis), dengue virus, and the filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg). For more information about SIGA, please visit SIGA's Web site at. (Primezone Releases)
Minister warns health workers of Lassa fever risk Mar 9, 2009
Babatunde Osotimehin, has raised an alarm on the danger the recent outbreak of Lassa fever poses to health workers ... Osotimehin said in a statement on the recent Lassa fever outbreak that: "Since the beginning of this year, there has been an upsurge in the reported cases of Lassa fever especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs. Within the last two weeks, we have recorded 12 cases with five deaths. Much more worrisome is the danger that the outbreak poses to health... (Guardian News, Nigeria)
Meningitis, lassa fever kill over 300 Nigerians Mar 6, 2009
LAGOS, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian Minister of Health Babatunde Osotimehin on Wednesday confirmed the deaths of 333 Nigerians as a result of the outbreak of meningitis and lassa fever in 22 states in the country ... He added that since the beginning of this year, there has been an upsurge in cases of lassa fever, especially in Abuja and its environs ... Osotimehin also confirmed that four health workers at the National Hospital, Abuja, who took care of some of the patients with lassa fever, had... (Xinhuanet, China)
Nigeria: Kano Prepares Against Lassa Outbreak Mar 6, 2009
Kano State government will embark on an enlightenment campaign against the spread of Lassa fever in the state, the Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Aishatu Isiaku Kiru has said ... "The campaign against Lassa fever is a responsibility of both the ministry of health and that of environment, therefore the two ministries are collaborating on the campaign against the disease because preventing its occurrence is the best solution as it does not have any prescribed treatment when it occurs." ... "There... (allAfrica.com)
Nigeria: Fighting Lethal Lassa Fever Mar 6, 2009
com: Nigeria: Fighting Lethal Lassa Fever (Page 1 of 1). Nigeria: Fighting Lethal Lassa Fever ... Kano Nigerian health officials are working to contain a resurgence of Lassa fever, a highly infectious disease that has killed at least eight people in the past month. (allAfrica.com)
Nigeria: Meningitis, Lassa Fever Kill 333 in 22 States Mar 5, 2009
com: Nigeria: Meningitis, Lassa Fever Kill 333 in 22 States (Page 1 of 1). Nigeria: Meningitis, Lassa Fever Kill 333 in 22 States ... Bauchi After an initial denial, the Federal Government has finally confirmed the outbreak of two deadly diseases, Lassa fever and Meningitis, in the country. (allAfrica.com)
Nigeria: Lassa Fever Outbreak Feb 26, 2009
An outbreak of Lassa fever was reported when the Chief Medical Director of National Hospital Abuja (NHA), Dr Olusegun Ajuwon, confirmed that one patient from the Federal Capital Territory, and two others from the adjoining Nasarawa State, were brought to the NHA for treatment after being diagnosed with Lassa fever ... Lassa fever, which can be transmitted through direct contact with infected human blood, urine or solid waste can also be contracted through an air-borne route ... Symptoms of Lassa... (allAfrica.com)
ST-246(r) in Combination With the Smallpox Vaccine ACAM2000(tm) Confers Protective Immunity in Primates Feb 24, 2009
In addition to small pox, SIGA has antiviral programs targeting other category A pathogens, including arenaviruses (Lassa Fever, Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, Sabia, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis), Dengue Virus, and the filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg). For more information about SIGA, please visit SIGA's website at. (Primezone Releases)
Nigeria: National Hospital Confirms Outbreak of Lassa Fever Feb 18, 2009
com: Nigeria: National Hospital Confirms Outbreak of Lassa Fever (Page 1 of 1). Nigeria: National Hospital Confirms Outbreak of Lassa Fever ... Lagos Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Abuja (NHA), Dr Olusegun Ajuwon, yesterday in Abuja confirmed the outbreak of Lassa fever in Abuja and the adjoining Nasarawa State. (allAfrica.com)
Govt raises teams on Lassa fever, meningitis Feb 18, 2009
FOLLOWING the outbreaks of Lassa fever in Edo and Nasarawa states that killed more than 30 persons and led to the hospitalisation of no fewer than 229 others in 2008, and the Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) outbreaks that have claimed over 15 lives in 2009, the Federal Government has increased surveillance on the diseases ... The Minister said: "It requires a lot of surveillance for us to be able to be on top of it and we have established a lab, a very high class lab in Irrua Specialist Hospital... (Guardian News, Nigeria)
