Virology Laboratory, Virology Centre, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, P.M.B. 102 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria; Department of Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Department of Pediatrics, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, P.M.B. 102, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Virus Res. 2020 Aug;285:198000. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198000. Epub 2020 May 4.
Lassa fever (LF) is a viral hemorrhagic illness endemic in West Africa. Annually, about 300,000-500,000 people are being infected, with about 5000 deaths. Symptoms of LF include high grade fever, headache, malaise, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or sore throat. Terminal features may include bleeding from all orifices (mouth, nose, ear, anus and vagina), facial and neck oedema or pleural effusion. People of all ages, gender, and occupations were included in this study. A total of 440 patients' samples and Bio data were used for this study. The samples were analyzed for Lassa fever virus RNA using Real Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 and version 7 of Epi-Info statistical software. Analysis of these samples showed LASV prevalence of 25.7%. Chi-square analysis (p ≤ 0.05) showed that LASV infection does not depend on age, gender, or occupation. Our research re-emphasized the fact that LASV is a serious cause of fatality in humans. Our data showed that among 327 negative patients, 19 died. On the contrary, 113 LASV confirmed positive cases had 42 deaths. This result is highly significant. More so, Lassa fever disease outcome was compared across gender. There was no significant difference between the two genders. Death or recovery from LF infection does not depend on sex. However, recovery from LF significantly depends on age of the patient. Fatal outcome is significantly higher among adults/elderly. We aim to raise awareness to the recurrence of LASV in Ebonyi State and urgent need for other medical interventions, including other therapeutic measures, and possible vaccine production, considering the impact of this virus.
拉沙热（LF）是一种在西非流行的病毒性出血性疾病。每年约有 30 万至 50 万人感染，约有 5000 人死亡。LF 的症状包括高烧、头痛、不适、腹痛、呕吐、腹泻或喉咙痛。晚期特征可能包括所有孔（口腔、鼻子、耳朵、肛门和阴道）出血、面部和颈部水肿或胸腔积液。本研究纳入了所有年龄段、性别和职业的人群。共有 440 名患者的样本和生物数据用于本研究。使用实时逆转录聚合酶链反应分析这些样本的拉沙热病毒 RNA。使用 SPSS 20.0 和 Epi-Info 统计软件第 7 版分析获得的数据。对这些样本的分析显示，LASV 的患病率为 25.7%。卡方分析（p≤0.05）显示，LASV 感染与年龄、性别或职业无关。我们的研究再次强调了 LASV 是人类严重致死原因的事实。我们的数据显示，在 327 名阴性患者中，有 19 人死亡。相反，113 例 LASV 确诊阳性病例中有 42 人死亡。这一结果具有高度显著性。更重要的是，比较了拉沙热疾病在不同性别中的结局。两性之间没有显著差异。LF 感染的死亡或康复与否与性别无关。然而，LF 的康复与否显著取决于患者的年龄。成年人/老年人的病死率明显更高。我们旨在提高人们对埃博尼州 LASV 复发的认识，并迫切需要采取其他医疗干预措施，包括其他治疗措施和可能的疫苗生产，考虑到这种病毒的影响。
