title: A survey for antibodies to Lassa virus among health workers in Nigeria.
abstract: A study was conducted among 552 health workers at 6 health facilities in Nigeria. Lassa virus immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibody was detected in 12.3%, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antibody prevalence in the 6 health centres ranged from 1.2% to 27.3%. Prevalences were higher in primary and secondary health facilities than in tertiary centres. Seroprevalences ranged from 1.7% to 23.7% among different occupational groups of health workers; the highest observed antibody prevalence was among ward aids. Lassa virus IgM antibody, indicating recent infection, was present in 6 of the health workers, 5 of whom were ward aids and one was a nurse. All of the health workers with specific IgM came from a single facility in Lafia, sampled during an outbreak of Lassa fever.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bajani
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tomori
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Rollin
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Harry
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Bukbuk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Childs
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Ksiazek
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D003150:Community Health Workers; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007836:Lassa virus / Q000276:immunology*; D009549:Nigeria
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M