It's Almost That Time of Year Again

It's Almost That Time of Year Again

...and no, I don't mean flu season.  I actually mean Lassa fever season.  This disease isn't on the tip of everyone's tongue, largely because it is fairly restricted to West Africa, and kills a mere 30% of patients.  It's the Diet Coke of viral hemorrhagic fevers, if you like.  That said, when large numbers of people are infected annually, that 30% is a very, very big number.  The good news is that Lassa fever responds reasonably well to the drug Ribivirin, and some wonderful aid agencies have strong programs to provide it to patients.

Here's the rub that is illiciting a collective "uh oh":  we seem to have this other viral hemorrhagic fever making noise this year.  Perhaps you've heard about it?  This presents a two-pronged problem.  First, there are not enough available health care workers to care for the routinely infirm, never mind all of the Ebola patients.  This does not bode well for the expected influx of Lassa patients.  Second, both diseases are viral hemorrhagic fevers, and they are easily confused in the absence of confirmatory diagnostics.  There is a high probability that Lassa patients will be taken for Ebola patients, and then not treated with Ribivirin and exposed to Ebola.  Similarly, Ebola patients may be exposed to Lassa.  There is a high chance for dual infections and inappropriate treatment.

In as much as we are worried about flu season confusion in the West, I expect there to be some Lassa season anxiety in West Africa.