By Mabinty M. Kamara
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) has confirmed the outbreak of Lassa fever in Dambala Selenga chiefdom, Southern Sierra Leone.
Speaking to Politico last Saturday 11 February , the Risk Communication Pillar lead at MoHS, Harold Thomas said two cases have already been confirmed and that effective surveillances were on-going to prevent further spread of the disease.
A situational update from the Bo district Health Management team dated 8 February indicated that the two patients both female are already dead and that no other cases have so far been confirmed from the suspects identified.
Harold noted that Lassa fever is predominant in the South-Eastern Belt of Sierra Leone with Tonkolili district which shares a boundary with the south,also joining in.
The Bo District Medical Officer, Dr. Prince Masuba told Politico that the deceased were closely related neighbours.
Lassa fever, according to experts, is a highly contagious haemorrhagic disease which can be transmitted from a particular type of rat scientifically known as Mastomys Natalenses. It can also be transmitted from human to humans through body contact.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (13/02/23)
