Humanitarian agencies in joint fight against Lassa fever

Representatives of four humanitarian agencies last week signed an agreement with Sierra Leone's health authorities to control the spread of the deadly Lassa fever in refugee camps in the southern and eastern part of the country. Under the inter-agency agreement, the Ministry of Health will increase medical stocks for treating the disease and centralise information. It will also work with the United States-based Centre for Disease Control which will handle laboratory implementation, staff training, disease prevention and control, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a news release on Tuesday. Since February, more than 2,000 suspected cases of Lassa Fever have been reported in refugee camps located in the southern district of Bo and Kenema in the east, UNHCR said. Currently, there is only one dedicated centre for the treatment of the disease in the country - the Lassa ward at the Kenema governmental hospital in eastern Sierra Leone. UNHCR said additional staff would need to be trained while adequate equipment and supply stock must be provided and the referral system from the refugee camps in Bo and Kenema districts to Kenema hospital would have to be improved. Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus. It is transmitted by rats, either through direct contact or contaminated food. The poor storage of food in some refugee camps draws rats and helps to spread the disease, the release said. The situation is exacerbated by the crowded environment within camps. Even when patients have been treated the virus remains in their bodies for six weeks during which it can be transmitted through unprotected sex, sharing food and sanitation facilities, it added. WHO will undertake all medical activities related to the Lassa ward, including drugs, supplies and rodent control. UNHCR will oversee transportation, logistics, communication, advocacy and overall coordination. In refugee camps, WFP and other camp management agencies will ensure improved food storage and higher hygiene standards. UNICEF will work on improving water and sanitation, while MERLIN, a British NGO, will implement training, prevention and control activities in and around the camps. MERLIN will also be in charge of case management in the Lassa ward. The agreement was signed by UNHCR, WHO, UNICEF, the WFP and British non-governmental organisation (NGO) MERLIN and the health authorities.