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Lassa fever

Lassa fever

Lassa fever is an acute viral illness, transmitted to humans by rodents. It occurs in West Africa. No cases of Lassa fever were reported in the EU/EEA in the recent years, according to the latest data in the Annual Epidemiological Report.  Primary transmission can be prevented by avoiding contact with rodents, especially in regions where outbreaks occur.

Read the Annual Epidemiological Report

Publication

Rapid risk assessment: Cases of Lassa fever in the Netherlands ex Sierra Leone

Risk assessment -

Publication

Communicable Disease Threats Report, 24-30 November 2019, week 48

Publication -

Data

Surveillance systems overview for 2018

Table -

Publication

Lassa fever - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2017

Surveillance report -

Publication

Rapid risk assessment: Cases of Lassa fever in the Netherlands ex Sierra Leone

Risk assessment -

Publication

Communicable Disease Threats Report, 24-30 November 2019, week 48

Publication -

Publication

Lassa fever - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2017

Surveillance report -

Publication

Lassa fever- Annual Epidemiological Report for 2016

Surveillance report -
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Data

Surveillance systems overview for 2018

Table -

Data

Surveillance systems overview for 2017

Table -

Data

Surveillance systems overview for 2016

Table -

Data

Surveillance systems overview for 2015

Table -

Threats and outbreaks

ECDC risk assessments, epidemiological updates, weekly threat reports related to cases and outbreaks of Lassa fever worldwide.

Surveillance and disease data

No cases of Lassa fever or other arenaviruses responsible for viral haemorrhagic fevers were reported in the EU/EEA.

Facts

Lassa fever is present in West Africa. The reservoir of Lassa virus are rodents and humans become infected through contact with the excreta of infected rats.

Related diseases

Disease / public health area

Alkhurma haemorrhagic fever

Disease / public health area

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever

Disease / public health area

Hantavirus infection

Disease programmes and networks

Emerging and Vector-borne Diseases Programme

Emerging Viral Diseases-Expert Laboratory Network (EVD-LabNet)

Peer-reviewed publications

Peer-Reviewed Publication

European risk assessment guidance for infectious diseases transmitted on aircraft - the RAGIDA project

Jan 2011