Use of the complement fixation (CF) test in Lassa fever surveillance. Evidence for persistent CF antibodies

A survey to detect individuals with antibodies to Lassa virus was undertaken among hospital personnel in the eastern and southern provinces of Sierra Leone late in 1974. Sera were evaluated by the complement fixation test. The data obtained showed that some contacts of Lassa fever patients in the 1972 epidemic had developed antibodies to the virus; individuals who had never reported being sick also showed evidence of infection, with significant CF antibody titres in their sera. Surviving Lassa fever patients from the 1972 epidemic still had easily measurable levels of persisting CF antibodies. The significance of these data is discussed; in addition it is recommended that the CF test should continue to be the method of choice in mass surveys for this virus disease until other tests can be developed.