title: Lassa virus-infected rodents in refugee camps in Guinea: a looming threat to public health in a politically unstable region.
abstract: Rodent-borne and other communicable diseases are of particular concern to vulnerable populations in complex humanitarian emergencies. We assessed the risk of Lassa fever to refugees and humanitarian aid workers in the Forest Region of Guinea by trapping rodents and testing them for the presence of Lassa virus infection. Our study provides a point prevalence of Lassa virus-infected rodents in various refugee camps in Guinea, suggesting that the risk of disease may be highest in camps further south toward the border with Liberia. The methodology used represents a potential model for rapid public health assessments in the setting of complex humanitarian emergencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Joseph.Fair@amedd.army.mil
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fair
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jentes
authors.forename: Alphonse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inapogui
authors.forename: Kerfella
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kourouma
authors.forename: Agustine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goba
authors.forename: Alpha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bah
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tounkara
authors.forename: Mamadi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coulibaly
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Garry
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Bausch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016701:Guinea; D006801:Humans; D007835:Lassa Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary; D007836:Lassa virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D051189:Murinae / Q000821:virology*; D011634:Public Health; D012036:Refugees; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D012377:Rodentia; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral