The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has revealed that it is engaging government to fast-track the mobilization of Ribavirin to ensure its availability for the management of patients identified to have Lassa fever.

According to the association, it has taken notice of the recent detection of Lassa Fever cases in Ghana from 24th February 2023, as announced by the Ghana Health Service. It indicated that total number of confirmed cases so far is 14, including some doctors and other health workers exposed in their line of duty.

The GMA stated that while no vaccine currently offers protection against Lassa Fever, Ribavirin offers good outcomes especially when given early along with other supportive management.

“The GMA is engaging the government to fast-track the mobilization of the drug to ensure its availability for the management of patients.”
Ghana Medical Association

The GMA acknowledged that measures are being put in place to trace the contacts of patients confirmed to have the fever in a bid to contain the virus from spreading further. The Association explained that it is equally facilitating the provision of psychological support to the colleagues confirmed with the disease.

“The virus spreads to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated with the urine or faeces of mice. It also spreads from one person to the other through direct contact with bodily fluids e.g. urine, blood, faeces or contaminated clothes and beddings of an infected person.”
Ghana Medical Association

Furthermore, the association stated that the risk of spread among health professionals is high when infection, prevention and control (IPC) protocols are not adhered to during the care of patients.

GMA members urged to adhere to safety protocols

Elaborating on the symptoms of Lassa fever, the association noted that most people infected with the virus may present with mild symptoms or may be asymptomatic. The early symptoms of Lassa fever, GMA explained, are non-specific and usually includes fever, general malaise, weakness, and headache.

“Other symptoms may include sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and abdominal pain. Severe cases may present with bleeding from the mouth, nose, vagina or stomach.”
Ghana Medical Association

In expressing the need to adhere to protocol measures, the GMA emphasized that its members are advised to adhere strictly to infection, prevention and control protocols especially regarding the use of PPEs at all times and ensure all other members of the care team do same. In particular, it underscored the need for its members to resort to the wearing of facemasks at all times at work, frequent hand washing or use of hand sanitizers, use of gloves and avoidance of contact with bodily fluids.

“Members are also urged to have a high index of suspicion for individuals presenting with the signs and symptoms outlined above. The GMA will continue to monitor the situation and advise members accordingly.”
Ghana Medical Association

The latest cases of confirmed patients was revealed after the Ghana Health Service traced 56 contacts of the initial two cases confirmed on Sunday, February 26. Active cases of Lassa Fever now stand at 13 according to the GHS, with one person dead so far from the disease.

Prior to this, Bono East Director of health, Dr Fred Adomako Boateng, called for prompt detection and treatment of Lassa fever in the country, following the confirmation of the first two cases by the Ghana Health Service.

According to him, although only 1% of persons confirmed with Lassa fever die, and is a “good prognosis”, it must be effectively managed and addressed. He revealed that because the virus presents itself as a “simple malaria”, people tend to trivialize its impact on their health.

Dr Boateng iterated that it is very important that victims of the virus commence the treatment as early as possible because if they wait till the latter stage, the case fatality is really high. With this, he noted that specific treatment are used to curtail the impact of Lassa fever on people.