title: Imported Lassa fever: a report of 2 cases in Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lassa fever is a potentially fatal acute viral illness caused by Lassa virus which is carried by rodents and is endemic in some West African countries. Importation of emerging infections such as Lassa fever, Ebola Virus Disease and other viral hemorrhagic fevers into non endemic regions is a growing threat particularly as international travel and commitments in resolving conflicts in endemic countries in the West Africa sub-region continue.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the first two recorded imported cases of Lassa fever among Ghanaian Peace keepers in rural Liberia, who became ill while on Peace keeping mission. They were subsequently evacuated to the UN level IV hospital in Accra, where their illnesses were laboratory confirmed. One of the patients recovered with ribavirin treatment and supportive therapy. No secondary clinical cases occurred in Ghana.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare providers at all levels of care should thus have a high index of suspicion for these infectious diseases and adopt standard infection control measures when treating patients in endemic regions or returning travelers from an endemic region with a febrile illness even of a known etiology.
authors.affiliation: 37 Military Hospital, Neghelli Barracks, Accra, Ghana. ninaky05@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nicholas N A
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Kyei
authors.affiliation: 37 Military Hospital, Neghelli Barracks, Accra, Ghana. drabilba@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mark M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abilba
authors.affiliation: 37 Military Hospital, Neghelli Barracks, Accra, Ghana. sterus_2000@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Foster K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Kwawu
authors.affiliation: 37 Military Hospital, Neghelli Barracks, Accra, Ghana. princea18@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Prince G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Agbenohevi
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Research Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Ghana. kbonney@noguchi.ug.edu.gh.
authors.forename: Joseph H K
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bonney
authors.affiliation: 37 Military Hospital, Neghelli Barracks, Accra, Ghana. Agbetom@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Agbemaple
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Research Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Ghana. shirleycameron93@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shirley C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Nimo-Paintsil
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Research Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Ghana. WAmpofo@noguchi.ug.edu.gh.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ampofo
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization Ghana Country Office, P. O Box MB 142, Accra, Ghana. salohene@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sally-Ann
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ohene
authors.affiliation: 37 Military Hospital, Neghelli Barracks, Accra, Ghana. eonyarko@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Edward O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Nyarko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging; D016358:Contact Tracing; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D007835:Lassa Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D007836:Lassa virus / Q000235:genetics; D007988:Liberia; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D011634:Public Health; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin