ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2015  |  Volume : 17  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 51-55

Lassa fever in Nigeria: Insights into seroprevalence and risk factors in rural Edo State: A pilot study


1 Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
2 Department of Community Health, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
3 Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany

Correspondence Address:
Ekaete Alice Tobin
Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State
Nigeria
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/2276-7096.162258

Rights and Permissions

Background: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of risk factors and Lassa seroprevalence in Esan West local government area of Edo State. Methodology: One hundred and sixty-six respondents from 50 households were interviewed using structured questionnaires on prevalence of risk factors for Lassa virus exposure, household heads provided information on household risk factors. Determination of Lassa virus specific antibodies immunoglobulin (Ig) in the blood was by an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Analysis was performed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Rodents were seen in 49 (96.1%) houses in the previous 6 months, garri was eaten as a soaked meal by 97 (58.4%) respondents. IgM was found in 2 (1.3%) samples, and IgG, in 103 (58.2%). Negative IgG sero status was significantly associated with age <20 years (P < 0.00) and marital status as single (P < 0.00). Conclusion: There is a need for health education to improve food hygiene practices and reduce practices that promote rodent contact with humans.


[FULL TEXT] [PDF]*
Print this article     Email this article
 Next article
 Previous article
 Table of Contents

 Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
 Citation Manager
 Access Statistics
 Reader Comments
 Email Alert *
 Add to My List *
 * Requires registration (Free)
 

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed9095    
    Printed482    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded4707    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 7    

Recommend this journal