Conference Abstract | Volume 8, Abstract ELIC202523 (Oral 056) | Published: 12 Aug 2025
Joseph Okoeguale1,&, Sylvanus Okogbenin1, George Akpede1, Reuben Eifediyi1, Cyril Erameh1, Lisa Oestereich2, Peter Okokhere1, Stephen Izevbekhai2, Danny Asogun1, Osahogie Edeawe1, Michael Ramharter2, Pristar Omogbai1, Stephan Günter2, Till Omansen2
1Institute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens Control and Research, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria, 2Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine & I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
&Corresponding author: Joseph Okoeguale, Institute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens, Control and Research, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria, Email: okoegualejoseph85@gmail.com
Received: 31 May 2025, Accepted: 09 Jul 2025, Published: 12 Aug 2025
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Lassa fever, Multiple gestation, residual placental virus
©Joseph Okoeguale et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Joseph Okoeguale et al., Lassa fever in multiple gestation: A report of two cases with positive umbilical cord blood Lassa PCR in the absence of maternal viremia. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;8(ConfProc5):00056. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO5-00056
A 35-year-old woman (G7P5+1) presented at 27 weeks 2 days gestation with fever, weakness, and cough. She was diagnosed with LF. Ultrasound scan confirmed a viable monochorionic-diamniotic twin gestation. She received supportive therapy and intravenous ribavirin. Repeat Lassa PCR was negative on the 11th day, and she was discharged on request at 30 weeks. She represented at 38 weeks with abruptio placentae, delivering two healthy babies via emergency cesarean section.
A 24-year-old woman (G4P3+0) presented at 31 weeks gestation with fever, poor appetite, and cough. Ultrasound scan confirmed a viable dichorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancy. She received supportive care and intravenous ribavirin. Fever resolved on the 4th day and repeat Lassa RT-PCR was negative on the 11th day. However, she took discharge against medical advice and represented 3 weeks later in labour, delivering one live and one deceased twin via emergency cesarean section. Laboratory findings showed anemia in both women. Cord blood Lassa PCR was negative for both babies in Case 1 but positive for both twins in Case 2, despite negative maternal serum Lassa RT-PCR. Both mothers remained afebrile and LASV-PCR negative postpartum. In Case 2, the live twin responded satisfactorily to treatment with IV ribavirin.
These cases highlight the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment of Lassa fever in pregnancy, as well as close monitoring of maternal and fetal well-being. Further research is needed to understand the implications of positive umbilical cord blood Lassa PCR in the absence of maternal viremia.
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