Lassa fever detected in France: what are the symptoms of this disease ?

A first case of Lassa fever, endemic in certain African countries, was reported. detected on French soil. A man was killed hospitalized in Val-de-Marne. How is it transmitted ?

A man was killed admitted à the Bégin military hospital, & Saint-Mandé in Val-de-Marne, Friday May 3. According to information from Le Parisien, the patient suffers from Lassa fever. In a press release, the Ministry of Work, Health and Solidarity confirmed this information, specifying that his state of health is not of concern. To avoid any epidemic spread, from “contact people" risk have been é “contacted by the health authorities”, specify the health authorities. An epidemiological investigation was carried out. launched in order to identify contact cases. risk. 

The virus à The origin of Lassa fever was detected for the first time in 1969 in Nigeria, according to the Pasteur Institute. Regular epidemic outbreaks are affecting West Africa, according to the Pasteur Institute .  It is a hemorrhagic fever which spreads mainly in West Africa such as Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia , in Mali, in Sierra Leone or even in Nigeria, where ù she provoked twenty deaths in one week in mid-April. In West Africa, 100 000 à 300,000 people are infected each year. In addition, 5,000  à 6,000 patients die annually. If the fatality rate is estimated à 1% by the World Health Organization, this rate climbs to 15% for serious cases in hospital.

Unspecific symptoms"

This is an uncommon disease in France. Considered a disease " à “obligatory declaration”, this fever causes “not very specific” symptoms, according to s the Ministry of Health. The incubation time of the virus can last between 6 and 21 days. Fever, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, headache, myalgia, arthralgia and asthma. Denial can be felt by the contaminated person. In severe cases, the symptoms then worsen with the appearance of oedema or even swelling. hemorrhagic signs.

But in 80% of cases, the virus is asymptomatic, which can favor its transmission. It can be transmitted in two ways: either by contact with food or household products contaminated by the excrement and urine of a rodent that lives nearby proximity dwellings, either of men or of men man, by direct contact with blood, urine, excrement or other organic secretions of a contaminated person. ;#39;appearance of symptoms, including fever, you must contact the doctor in charge of your follow-up.