Doctors Evacuated from Sierra Leone Over Lassa Fever Scare
Ten doctors – seven Dutch and three British – have been urgently flown out of Sierra Leone after exposure to Lassa Fever. Two Dutch medics and a local anaesthetist have tested positive for the deadly virus.
Surgery Sparks Infection Alert
The group is considered “high risk” after treating a pregnant woman at Masanga Hospital in Tonkolili District earlier this month. District Medical Officer Dr Abdul Falana confirmed the infection likely occurred during the operation.
Lassa Fever: Ebola’s Dangerous Cousin
Lassa Fever is endemic in Sierra Leone’s eastern Kenema District and shares similarities with Ebola, raising alarm among health officials. The swift evacuation highlights fears of an outbreak spreading from this deadly haemorrhagic fever.
