Suspected Lassa fever cases registered in the first 11 weeks of the year have more than doubled compared to reports for the same period in 2019 – the majority of confirmed cases were in the states of Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi. There have been calls for a national emergency to be declared to stem this outbreak and its high fatality rates, now the largest recorded in Nigeria. Read more
Advice for travellers
Lassa fever is an acute viral illness that occurs in West Africa, notably in Nigeria, Guinea, and Liberia. As many as 300,000 cases and 5,000 deaths occur each year. However, Lassa is a remote risk for most travellers. Rodents shed the virus in urine and droppings and it is spread between humans through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, or other bodily secretions of an infected person. Read more about Lassa fever.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.