The Ministry of Health and Sanitation has told the press that two people have died from Lassa Fever in Dambala Selenga Chiefdom, Bo District in Southern Sierra Leone.

According to Politico Newspaper, the two cases have already been confirmed and that government has conducted surveillance to halt the spread of the hemorrhagic fever.

The District’s Health Management team indicated that the two victims are females and that there are currently no recorded cases. Report indicated that the two victims are related.

The Ministry’s Risk Communicator Lead, Harold Thomas said the region is within the infection belt with Tonkolili being the only district in the north to have been recording cases over the years.

According to the United States’ Center for Disease Control (CDC), the virus is believed to be an acute viral illness spread by the common African rat.

Studies have shown that it is endemic in parts of West Africa including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria. Neighbouring countries are also believed to be at risk because the animal vector lives throughout the region.