Lassa fever in Nigeria: Insights into seroprevalence and risk factors in rural Edo State: A pilot study :Ekaete Alice Tobin, Danny Asogun, Nosa Akpede, Donatus Adomeh, Ikponwonsa Odia, Stephan Gunther, Journal of Medicine in the Tropics

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

Ekaete Alice Tobin¹, Danny Asogun¹, Nosa Akpede², Donatus Adomeh¹, Ikponwonsa Odia¹, Stephan Gunther³
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

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.

How to cite this article:
Tobin EA, Asogun D, Akpede N, Adomeh D, Odia I, Gunther S. Lassa fever in Nigeria: Insights into seroprevalence and risk factors in rural Edo State: A pilot study.J Med Trop 2015;17:51-55

How to cite this URL:
Tobin EA, Asogun D, Akpede N, Adomeh D, Odia I, Gunther S. Lassa fever in Nigeria: Insights into seroprevalence and risk factors in rural Edo State: A pilot study. J Med Trop [serial online] 2015 [cited 2023 Jun 4 ];17:51-55
Available from: https://www.jmedtropics.org/article.asp?issn=2276-7096;year=2015;volume=17;issue=2;spage=51;epage=55;aulast=Tobin;type=0