Liberia confirms three more Lassa fever deaths

Liberian authorities on Friday confirmed three more deaths from Lassa fever, a disease endemic in several West African countries.
The deaths were recorded from the counties of Montserrado and Nimba, the ministry of health said.
Liberia has confirmed a total of 12 deaths so far, out of a total of 28 cases of Lassa fever since the beginning of the year.
Tolbert Nyenswah, Head of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, said that county’s health teams have embarked on contact tracing on both healthcare workers and community members, who came in contact with the deceased during their symptomatic period.
Nyenswah said a total of 134 contacts have been identified and are currently being traced.
Only three counties have been affected by Lassa fever in Liberia, which has a total of 15 counties.
Humans usually become infected with the Lassa virus from exposure to urine or feces of infected mastomys rats.
Other than common preventive measures such as washing hands regularly, the World Health Organisation has recommended keeping cats.