Dear Editor,
Lassa fever (LF) is a serious and potentially deadly viral disease caused by the Lassa virus (LASV) that is prevalent in West Africa, including Benin, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, and Nigeria because the LASV reservoir and vector (Mastomys natalensis) are abundantly seen in these areas1. LASV has 2–21 days or more than that incubation period, thus its increases the risk of its transmission from endemic to nonendemic regions2. One of the major concerns with LASV is its high case fatality rate; additionally, the virus can easily spread from human–human contact, which makes it even more dangerous. Another major concern with LASV is the lack of effective vaccines and therapeutics for treating the disease. This is further compounded by the fact that the virus can also spread through aerosols, making it even more difficult to contain3.
Due to the severe nature of LASV and its potential to spread easily, it is classified as a biosafety level 4 agent. This means that it is considered to be one of the most dangerous pathogens known to mankind. Despite this, the overall impact of LASV on the increased threat of viral diseases in West Africa has not been fully understood4. However, it is known that LASV is a significant cause of yearly morbidity and mortality in many of Africa’s poverty-stricken communities, such as in Nigeria in 2022, where around 189 deaths were reported out of 1067 confirmed cases of LASV. Annually, around 1–3 million infections with LF occur, with around 5000 deaths5.
LASV is a public health and security issue. Currently, there is no specific vaccine to prevent LF. The antiviral drug ribavirin is used to treat the LF, but it is not very effective. However, researchers are working on developing a vaccine that would provide immunity against the virus. One approach being explored is using a live, attenuated version of the virus that has been genetically modified to be less virulent. Another approach being studied is the use of a subunit vaccine, which consists of pieces of the virus that are able to stimulate an immune response but do not cause illness4,6.
Researchers should develop more sensitive and specific diagnostic tools, as well as the development of point-of-care diagnostic devices that can be used in resource-limited settings7. The development of new antiviral drugs and understanding the epidemiology of LF are also crucial for controlling and preventing outbreaks. This includes identifying the main vectors and reservoirs of the virus, as well as understanding the risk factors that contribute to the spread of the disease. The governments of endemic regions should arrange community education and awareness programs for individuals living in or traveling to areas where LF is endemic. Individuals living in or traveling to these areas should take precautions to avoid contact with infected rats and practice good hygiene to prevent person-to-person transmission of the virus.
Ethical approval and informed consent
Ethical approval and informed consent were not required for this study.
Source of funding
There was no source of funding for this research.
Authors contribution
All authors contributed equally for this study.
Conflicts of interest disclosure
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Guarantor
All authors.
Data availability
Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created.
Footnotes
Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article.
Published online 14 March 2023
Contributor Information
Muhammad Ahmad, Email: mahmad118@yahoo.com.
Ishtiaq Ahmed, Email: i.ahmed@latrobe.edu.au.
Prakasini Satapathy, Email: prakasini.satapathy@gmail.com.
Mubarick N. Asumah, Email: nungbaso.asumah@uds.edu.gh.
Bijaya K. Padhi, Email: bkpadhi@gmail.com.
References
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Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
Data Availability Statement
Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created.