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: 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: 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: 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)
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)
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)
Vaccine for Ebola virus Mar 31, 2008
As well as the difficulty in getting the right staff and facilities, vaccines for viruses like Ebola, Marburg and Lassa fever have been difficult to produce because simple killed viruses that just trigger an antibody response from the blood are not effective. For these viruses we need to get a cell-mediated response, which involves our bodies producing killer T-cells before immunity is strong enough to prevent or clear an infection. (EurekAlert!)
Nigeria: Measles, Cholera Claim 264 in 3 Months Jan 31, 2008
Similarly, Lassa fever, yellow fever, cerebro-spinal meningitis, avian influenza and cholera have all taken their tolls on Nigeria over the same period. According to the report, 21 cases of lass a fever were reported and eight deaths recorded in the high risk areas of Edo, Plateau, Lagos, Ogun, Nasarawa, Taraba, Borno and Anambra States. (allAfrica.com)
SIGA Completes 21 Day Multi-Dose Human Clinical Safety and Dose-Ranging Trial of Its Lead Smallpox Drug ST-246 Dec 6, 2007
In addition to smallpox, SIGA has antiviral programs targeting other Category A viral pathogens, including arenaviruses (Lassa fever, Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, Sabia, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis), dengue virus, and the filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg) ... In addition to smallpox, 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... (Primezone Releases)
Ebola and other tropical viruses Nov 30, 2007
Lassa fever - first noticed in the 1960s after an outbreak in Nigeria, and is spread from rodents, the natural host. Rift Valley fever - mainly found in sub-Saharan Africa, and spread by mosquitoes. (BBC News -- Health)
Monkey meat at center of NYC case Nov 25, 2007
More ominously, the complaint warned of the potential health risks to humans linking bushmeat to diseases like Lassa fever, Ebola, HIV, SARS and monkeypox. . (MSNBC -- Crime)
Corgenix designs test kits for deadly diseases Oct 29, 2007
A small Broomfield-based company -- currently trading for less than 50 cents a share -- hopes that test kits that can detect killer viruses such as Ebola and Lassa Fever will lift it out of the over-the-counter bulletin board and into the American Stock Exchange. For three years, has worked with researchers from Tulane University, the U.S. Army and two other biotech companies to develop diagnostic test kits that will help detect an outbreak of deadly diseases without the benefit of a... (Denver Business Journal, CO)
Your Health This Week: Jun 6, 2007
Lassa fever first came to the United States via an ambulance plane carrying an infected patient from West Africa. Tuberculosis, measles, and mumps have also traveled by plane. (Slate)
New Animal Model Boosts Biodefense Research On Lassa Fever Jun 5, 2007
Scientists at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research have developed a new tool in the battle against a potential biological weapon, Lassa fever, which kills several thousand people each year and leaves thousands more with disabilities such as deafness and liver damage. Scientists at Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research have developed the common marmoset as a valuable new research model to advance biodefense work against the Lassa fever virus ... 81, Issue 12), SFBR scientists... (Science Daily)
Thumbs up or down on Sherman? Apr 24, 2007
maybe they should have left all of you there so you could participate in the vicious tribal wars in that wonderful country, not to mention sharing in such afflictions as Ebola, Lassa Fever, AIDS, as well as starvation and famine that plagues that continent. By Cuz. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Homeland Security plans NBAF site visit Apr 17, 2007
During the question-and-answer period, Johnson sidestepped around a question regarding the kinds of research that would be conducted at the NBAF. A reporter asked if the facility would be authorized to conduct research on Ebola or the Lassa fever, both of which are highly virulent diseases. Johnson said repeatedly that that work was not the mission of the facility, but did not say research on those specific diseases or types of diseases would not be conducted at NBAF.. (Leavenworth Times, KS)
Lassa Fever Returns as Health Sector crumbles Apr 13, 2007
Liberia, which experienced a devastating 14-year civil war that ended in 2003, last registered Lassa fever outbreaks in September, mostly in Nimba County ... "We are very concerned about the active circulation of Lassa fever and are now putting in place mechanisms to deal with the disease, especially in the affected areas," Wesseh said She said five people suspected of having the disease died, but health authorities had not confirmed whether the cause of death was Lassa. (Ocnus.net)
No weekend grocery talks Mar 3, 2007
San Diego-based Aethlon Medical said it will collaborate with the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research to study the company's blood-filtration system, called the Hemopurifier, as a potential treatment for Lassa fever, an endemic viral condition in Africa. The company has already started studies of the system with researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and the Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Business)
Making a case for 'sacred' meat Feb 27, 2007
Some studies, investigators said in court papers, have linked bushmeat to HIV, SARS and Lassa fever, a viral disease passed by a small rodent. Another concern is that Ebola, a severe and often fatal viral infection, is harbored in some monkeys. (Newsday -- New York City)
New study may show how to forestall a fatal, virus-caused immune-system meltdown Feb 15, 2007
But in the case of some of the worlds deadliest pathogens including the Ebola, Marburg and Lassa fever viruses, as well as the influenza virus strain responsible for the 1918 flu pandemic the immune system itself actually becomes the most dangerous element of the disease ... (During some Lassa fever epidemics, as many as 50 percent of those diagnosed with the disease have died from it ... Connecting those strands is critical to diagnosing and restoring balance to an immune system gone... (EurekAlert!)
Clive Aslet: The price of a £5 roast Feb 4, 2007
Zoonoses include many of the world's most fearful killers - anthrax, bubonic plague, Ebola, Lassa fever, probably HIV. So far, nearly all the people who have died from human bird flu live or work close to poultry. They caught the disease directly from birds. (Guardian Unlimited -- UK)
