By Thibault Nadal
Published on
May 4, 24 at 6:36
“There is nothing to worry about.” After the detection of a first case of Lassa fever in Île-de-France, Sylvain Baize, head of the CNR (National Reference Centers) for viral hemorrhagic fevers at the Pasteur Institute, is reassuring. “There will be no epidemic in France. The most likely is that this disease remains confined to a single case,” he says toParis news.
Where is this virus found?
In a press release, the Ministry of Labor, health and Solidarity explains that a patient, a soldier returning from a mission abroad, was hospitalized due to this viral hemorrhagic fever and that he is doing well .
Professor Sylvain Baize confirms that this virus circulates “in West African countries, from Guinea to Nigeria. It was in fact in the town of Lassa that the virus appeared for the first time in 1969, “in a nurse who fell ill after providing care, and who died, after having contaminated two other healthcare workers”.
Its import is “a first in France”, but not in Europe or the United States. “One or two cases are recorded there per year,” specifies Sylvain Baize at Paris news.
How do you contract this fever?
This virus is mainly transmitted to humans by a rodent, Mastomysnatalensis. “It’s an animal that lives close to homes in Africa,” assures Sylvain Baize. By approaching food, it can attach the virus to it, particularly with its urine or excrement. »
The virus is also “transmissible from man to man by direct contact with the blood, urine, excrement or other organic secretions of an infected person”. But this remains less common, confirms the specialist from the Pasteur Institute. To avoid any epidemic spread, “contact persons at risk have been contacted by the health authorities”, specify the authorities.
What are the symptoms ?
Once on humans, this hemorrhagic fever – which attacks several organs – remains asymptomatic in 80% of cases. For those affected, its detection proves “complicated”, concedes Sylvain Baize. Initially, this virus presents “common symptoms”, such as a flu-like illness, headaches or fatigue.
It was in a second phase, after several days, that complications may appear : diarrhea, vomiting, bleeding gums or edema.
How to treat this virus?
At the moment, there is no no vaccine or drug treatment, according to the head of the CNR for viral hemorrhagic fevers at the Pasteur Institute. “We will help the patient to survive, but in the majority of cases, people can cope on their own. »
If symptoms appear, at-risk cases must isolate themselves and contact the doctor in charge of their follow-up. “It is important to monitor the appearance of symptoms during 21 days after the last risky contact”, further details the ministry.
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