PMID- 27630390
OWN - NLM
STAT- PubMed-not-MEDLINE
DCOM- 20160916
LR  - 20181113
IS  - 0300-1652 (Print)
IS  - 2229-774X (Electronic)
IS  - 0300-1652 (Linking)
VI  - 57
IP  - 4
DP  - 2016 Jul-Aug
TI  - Postexposure prophylaxis for Lassa fever: Experience from a recent outbreak in 
      Nigeria.
PG  - 246-50
LID - 10.4103/0300-1652.188362 [doi]
AB  - BACKGROUND: Secondary transmission of Lassa fever (LF) occurs in the community 
      and in health-care facilities, and is associated with high fatality in Nigeria. 
      We investigated the role of oral ribavirin postexposure prophylaxis (orPEP) in 
      preventing LF among the primary contacts of confirmed cases from December 2015 to 
      March 2016. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Epidemiological and clinical data of LF 
      contacts were prospectively collected. However, information regarding ribavirin 
      adverse effects (AEs) were collected retrospectively through a telephone 
      interview. High-risk contacts were clinically monitored ΁ orPEP. RESULTS: 
      Thirty-five (94.6%) out of the 37 individuals enrolled in the study were contacts 
      of confirmed LF cases, and friends and family members (54%) constituted the 
      largest group. However, only 29 (83%) individuals were classified as high-risk 
      contacts. Twenty-one (60%) of contacts were prescribed ribavirin with 6 (28.6%) 
      of them reporting AEs. Body weakness (33%) was the most frequent AE, but there 
      was no incidence of treatment discontinuation due to AE. Furthermore, there were 
      no reported cases of LF among all respondents (0%), whether they had orPEP or 
      not. CONCLUSION: Secondary transmission of LF seems uncommon and the benefit of 
      orPEP is uncertain. Although AEs of ribavirin may not be uncommon, they are 
      rarely serious enough to cause treatment interruption. More emphasis should be on 
      supporting persons looking after LF cases adopt measures that minimize the risks 
      of exposure.
FAU - Isa, Samson E
AU  - Isa SE
AD  - Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Jos/Jos 
      University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
FAU - Okwute, Attah
AU  - Okwute A
AD  - Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Jos/Jos 
      University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
FAU - Iraoyah, Kelly O
AU  - Iraoyah KO
AD  - Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Jos/Jos 
      University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
FAU - Nathan, Shehu Y
AU  - Nathan SY
AD  - Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Jos/Jos 
      University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
FAU - Simji, Gomerep S
AU  - Simji GS
AD  - Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Jos/Jos 
      University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
FAU - Okolo, Mark O
AU  - Okolo MO
AD  - Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Jos/Jos University Teaching 
      Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
FAU - Anejo-Okopi, Joseph
AU  - Anejo-Okopi J
AD  - Department of Microbiology, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
FAU - Spicola, Daria
AU  - Spicola D
AD  - Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, Arnas Civico Di 
      Cristina Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy.
FAU - Isa, Daisy E
AU  - Isa DE
AD  - Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United 
      Kingdom.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - Nigeria
TA  - Niger Med J
JT  - Nigerian medical journal : journal of the Nigeria Medical Association
JID - 0315137
PMC - PMC4995818
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - Lassa fever
OT  - Nigeria
OT  - oral ribavirin
OT  - prophylaxis
OT  - secondary transmission
EDAT- 2016/09/16 06:00
MHDA- 2016/09/16 06:01
PMCR- 2016/07/01
CRDT- 2016/09/16 06:00
PHST- 2016/09/16 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2016/09/16 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2016/09/16 06:01 [medline]
PHST- 2016/07/01 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - NMJ-57-246 [pii]
AID - 10.4103/0300-1652.188362 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Niger Med J. 2016 Jul-Aug;57(4):246-50. doi: 10.4103/0300-1652.188362.