Endemic Lassa fever in Liberia. V. Distribution of Lassa virus activity in Liberia: hospital staff surveys.

Serological testing of hospital personnel by the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) technique was used to indicate the distribution of Lassa virus (LV) activity in Liberia. Determination of the places of origin of the staff members as well as the sites of the hospitals indicated that LV is active in throughout Liberia. Prevalences of IFA varied from 3.8% at the J. J. Dossen Hospital on the coast in the south-east to 22.3, 23.5 and 40.4% in Lofa County hospitals inland in the north-west. Rises in LV antibody prevalences, high prevalences and relatively high IFA titres in hospital personnel suggest the LV activity is particularly high in Lofa, Grand Cape Mount and Nimba Counties.