More than 2,100 suspected Lassa fever cases (586 confirmed) and 103 deaths were reported up to Feb 16 – the number of suspected case is almost double those for the same period last year. Sixteen states registered cases in the most recent reporting week and over half of the confirmed cases this year were from the southern states of Edo and Ondo. Read more (Week 7 update)
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.