Novel approaches to Lassa fever diagnosis in rural West Africa

Abstract

This study presents innovative diagnostic methodologies that can be deployed in resource-limited settings to improve early detection of Lassa fever cases. Our research demonstrates the effectiveness of point-of-care testing systems that can be operated by minimally trained healthcare workers in rural communities across West Africa. The study was conducted across three countries (Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Guinea) and involved 1,247 patients over an 18-month period. Results show 94% sensitivity and 97% specificity compared to traditional RT-PCR methods, with results available within 15 minutes. These findings have significant implications for early outbreak detection and response in remote areas where laboratory infrastructure is limited.