Molecular confirmation and phylogeny of Lassa fever virus in Benin Republic 2014-2016.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The changing epidemiology of the Lassa virus from endemic areas to other parts of West Africa has been reported. However, there have been no documented Lassa fever transmission chains in the Benin Republic. Two outbreaks of Lassa fever (November 2014 and January 2016) in the Benin Republic were characterised by a high number of deaths (more than 50%) among 27 confirmed and other unconfirmed cases.

Objectives

We report the detection, confirmation and relatedness of the Lassa virus strains from the Benin Republic with other isolates within the West African Sub-region.

Methods

A total of 70 blood samples (16 from 2014 and 54 from 2016) from suspected cases with signs and symptoms suggestive of viral haemorrhagic fever were received for molecular analysis at th

SUBMITTER: Salu OB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6739551 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature