A survey for antibodies to Lassa virus among health workers in Nigeria.
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.
Bajani
M D
MD
Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Tomori
O
O
Rollin
P E
PE
Harry
T O
TO
Bukbuk
N D
ND
Wilson
L
L
Childs
J E
JE
Peters
C J
CJ
Ksiazek
T G
TG
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
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M