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The Lassa Ward: One Man's Fight Against One of the World's Deadliest Diseases
Ross Donaldson is one of just a few who have ventured into dark territory of a country ravaged by war to study one of the world’s most deadly diseases. As an untried medical student studying the intersection of global health and communicable disease, Donaldson soon found himself in dangerous Sierra Leone, on the border of war-struck Liberia, where he struggled to control the spread of Lassa Fever. The words, “you know Lassa can kill you, don’t you?” haunted him each day. With the country in complete upheaval and working conditions suffering, he is forced to make life-and-death decisions alone as a never-ending onslaught of contagious patients flood the hospital. Soon however, he is not only fighting for others but himself when he becomes afflicted with a life threatening disease. The Lassa Ward is more than just an adventure story about the making of a physician; it is a portrait of the Sierra Leone people and the human struggle of those risking their daily comforts and lives to aid them.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
December 21, 2015
This could be three stars, I suppose, but the writing drove me up the wall and back down, and...the rest of it didn't really help matters.
The back-cover copy says:
Ross Donaldson was an idealistic young medical student when he gave up his comfortable life in the States to venture into Sierra Leone, a country ravaged by fighting...
Nope. He spent a summer between years of higher education doing research and humanitarian work. He gave up those creature comforts for two months. Not the same as '[giving] up his comfortable life in the States'.
Now, in a hospital ward with meager supplies, Ross is in a race against time to find a way to care for patients afflicted with Lassa fever...
Again: nope. The only significant 'race against time' involved the fact that he was only there for two months. He wasn't working to find a cure (there was already a drug on the market, though not an ideal one) -- he was a med student doing research and helping out. (Getting patients started on medication for Lassa was time-sensitive -- but not nearly as dramatic as it sounds here.)
Forced to confront his own fears, he stands alone to make life-and-death decisions in the face of a never-ending onslaught of the sick.
Whoa there, cowboy. Briefly, yes -- when the more experienced doctor leaves town for a week. But even then there are others he can consult with, and most of the time he's not alone and not making the tough decisions. Much of the time the big problem is that supplies are so limited.
Ultimately, he finds himself not only fighting for the lives of others but also for his own.
Well...sort of. But not in the way the copy implies.
Now, Donaldson most likely didn't write the cover copy, so I can't/don't blame him for it. He is up front about being a medical student; although he had an academic interest in Lassa fever, he'd never seen a case before he went to Sierra Leone. And don't get me wrong -- credit where credit is due, he was doing important (and difficult, and frightening) work. But that copy did set me up for a very different read -- perhaps something along the lines of Mountains Beyond Mountains (or even The Hospital by the River, which, by the way, did a much better job of explaining fistula).
But back to the writing: As far as I can tell, the author was going for descriptive, 'deep' writing. But 'descriptive', here, tends to mean three times as many adverbs and adjectives as are warranted; 'deep' translates into prose that is overwrought. Florid. Purple.
Again, I may not be being entirely fair here, but I expected something (look at that great cover! Read the promising subtitle and cover copy!) that the book didn't deliver. I wanted to know more about Lassa fever and about Donaldson's research. I wanted the mention of blood diamonds not to be glossed over. If he was going to employ a dramatic 'will he live' prologue, I wanted a higher sense of urgency at the end.
Alas, siiigh, and on to the next thing, I guess.
The back-cover copy says:
Ross Donaldson was an idealistic young medical student when he gave up his comfortable life in the States to venture into Sierra Leone, a country ravaged by fighting...
Nope. He spent a summer between years of higher education doing research and humanitarian work. He gave up those creature comforts for two months. Not the same as '[giving] up his comfortable life in the States'.
Now, in a hospital ward with meager supplies, Ross is in a race against time to find a way to care for patients afflicted with Lassa fever...
Again: nope. The only significant 'race against time' involved the fact that he was only there for two months. He wasn't working to find a cure (there was already a drug on the market, though not an ideal one) -- he was a med student doing research and helping out. (Getting patients started on medication for Lassa was time-sensitive -- but not nearly as dramatic as it sounds here.)
Forced to confront his own fears, he stands alone to make life-and-death decisions in the face of a never-ending onslaught of the sick.
Whoa there, cowboy. Briefly, yes -- when the more experienced doctor leaves town for a week. But even then there are others he can consult with, and most of the time he's not alone and not making the tough decisions. Much of the time the big problem is that supplies are so limited.
Ultimately, he finds himself not only fighting for the lives of others but also for his own.
Well...sort of. But not in the way the copy implies.
Now, Donaldson most likely didn't write the cover copy, so I can't/don't blame him for it. He is up front about being a medical student; although he had an academic interest in Lassa fever, he'd never seen a case before he went to Sierra Leone. And don't get me wrong -- credit where credit is due, he was doing important (and difficult, and frightening) work. But that copy did set me up for a very different read -- perhaps something along the lines of Mountains Beyond Mountains (or even The Hospital by the River, which, by the way, did a much better job of explaining fistula).
But back to the writing: As far as I can tell, the author was going for descriptive, 'deep' writing. But 'descriptive', here, tends to mean three times as many adverbs and adjectives as are warranted; 'deep' translates into prose that is overwrought. Florid. Purple.
We watched the child's heavy breathing, both lost in our own thoughts. Eve's mother, perhaps, remembered her daughter's first steps or a special bedtime kiss. Limited merely to memories of Eve's earthly suffering, I saw only darkness grow around her while hoping in the depths of my heart that I had made the right decision. (207)
I shook his hand with a bittersweet smile, deepened by the events of the last few months -- a period for me seeped in death, but also rich in life. For a moment, I gazed out in the distance, where a setting sun outlined jungle-covered mountains. There was not a cloud in the sky. (217)
A young woman, known for her charm and beauty, opened the front door. She wore an angelic smile, radiant above soft robes.
...
"I missed you," I said.
"Yes," she told me hours later. "You really did." (237)
Again, I may not be being entirely fair here, but I expected something (look at that great cover! Read the promising subtitle and cover copy!) that the book didn't deliver. I wanted to know more about Lassa fever and about Donaldson's research. I wanted the mention of blood diamonds not to be glossed over. If he was going to employ a dramatic 'will he live' prologue, I wanted a higher sense of urgency at the end.
Alas, siiigh, and on to the next thing, I guess.
February 22, 2018
Overall I really liked this book. I thought it was an inspiring story that demonstrated the stark contrast between life here in the U.S. versus elsewhere, and showing just how good most Americans have it. It is the story of a young med student which depicts his journey from California to Sierra Leone to work on the Lassa disease. It was hard to read about kids and innocent people going through such struggle. I think this book was definitely eye opening for me and I would recommend it!
February 2, 2016
Ross is a medical student from California who decides to go to Africa, to learn about the deadly Lassa Fever in a ward in Sierre Leone and write a paper about his experiences. Nothing there is as he expected. This book is more about his experience of the chasm between cultures and the completely different mind set of the people there. Of the polarity of medical care where there are no supplies for things he takes for granted. Such as the fact there is not even a breathing bag/mask and there is no way to even test for what they are treating. How even though health care is supposed to be free, health care workers refuse to treat those who cannot pay. How care workers do not understand the differences between viruses and bacteria or that different antibiotics treat different infections. He is unsure and frightened of making a mistake that costs someone their life.
The book is less about Lassa Fever and more about his own personal education of a system doing its best with no resources or support amidst political chaos.
After reading this book and against the aftermath of the recent Ebola epidemic, I have to wonder how little things have changed in over ten years.
The book is less about Lassa Fever and more about his own personal education of a system doing its best with no resources or support amidst political chaos.
After reading this book and against the aftermath of the recent Ebola epidemic, I have to wonder how little things have changed in over ten years.
October 19, 2023
more a memoir about his experiences in the Lassa fever ward during a troubled time in West Africa than a deep dive into the disease/treatment (which the cover alludes to more)
regardless, completed the book with ever increasing respect for those who work in humanitarian aid long-term. I liked how the author noted the importance of education and cultural understanding in this field.
all around really great reflections throughout too.
could maybe have some more editing work to improve flow at end??
regardless, completed the book with ever increasing respect for those who work in humanitarian aid long-term. I liked how the author noted the importance of education and cultural understanding in this field.
all around really great reflections throughout too.
could maybe have some more editing work to improve flow at end??
April 11, 2010
I grabbed this book from the public library on impulse, and overall it was an easy and interesting read. However, that comes with a caveat I'm beginning to apply to more and more books - it could have been much better with some careful editorial attention. As a small, specific example, the author refers to obstetric fistula as something that happens when delivery is "unsupervised." People with knowledge of this topic know that fistula is an injury that occurs when labor is complicated/obstructed and skilled assistance is not available. In other words, it's a problem of infrastructure and availability of care, not something that happens simply because any given laboring woman was "unsupervised" - being "unsupervised" does not by itself cause fistula. It's a small distinction in language that makes a difference as to whether the text is medically accurate. I find it difficult to believe that an MD, MPH author with personal experience working in Africa (where fistula is much more common due to lack of available maternity care), so I can't help wondering if someone on the publishing end either made the statement incorrect while trying to make it "simple," or if it's just an item a good editor with some medical knowledge should have clarified before proceeding.
More broadly, despite the nature of this book as a memoir (and so rather self-centered by design), some editorial attention could have transformed this book from merely an account of one med student's adventure into a more meaningful work on the conditions and structures which contribute to the need for such "aid" work. The end of the book is basically, "Hey, my adventure was over, and I went home a changed man" - something not nearly so interesting as further discussion of the limitations of sending partially trained students to put small bandages on deep wounds, or the medical and structural situations in the country and system in which the author operated.
I've read a number of books lately to which my response has been, "A good editor could have made this much better," and unfortunately, this one was among them. I wouldn't discourage anyone with an interest in medical narratives from reading this book, but it could have been much better with the kind of attention from the publisher/editor that seems to be slowly going away.
More broadly, despite the nature of this book as a memoir (and so rather self-centered by design), some editorial attention could have transformed this book from merely an account of one med student's adventure into a more meaningful work on the conditions and structures which contribute to the need for such "aid" work. The end of the book is basically, "Hey, my adventure was over, and I went home a changed man" - something not nearly so interesting as further discussion of the limitations of sending partially trained students to put small bandages on deep wounds, or the medical and structural situations in the country and system in which the author operated.
I've read a number of books lately to which my response has been, "A good editor could have made this much better," and unfortunately, this one was among them. I wouldn't discourage anyone with an interest in medical narratives from reading this book, but it could have been much better with the kind of attention from the publisher/editor that seems to be slowly going away.
August 3, 2023
The Lassa Ward by Ross Donaldson was a very engaging and eye-opening book. I found it difficult to put down and extremely compelling as well as very well written. Reading in 2023 it was somewhat amusing to have the term PPE explained, why it's important to take it off properly and of course the notion of how complacency can lead to problems.
Donaldson's detailed description of what they had to treat Lassa in the most affected area is extremely thought-provoking and challenging to someone from Australia. The idea of being unable to afford simple antibiotics for a staph infection is mind-blowing to me and a reminder of how good our health system is.
I wish he had included more insights, if he had any, on the stark shock it is to be the patient rather than the doctor. I feel this is something more doctors need to be aware of. Few seem to understand the terror and frustration patients feel when faced with something that they don't understand. What is routine for a doctor, particularly in developed nations, isn't so routine for a patient. The disorientation and fear Donaldson felt when he was unable to get the severity of his symptoms across to a doctor is something I've felt before.
Overall I recommend this book to anyone interested in medicine, and anyone interested in seeing what it takes to treat deadly conditions in some of the poorest nations in the world.
Donaldson's detailed description of what they had to treat Lassa in the most affected area is extremely thought-provoking and challenging to someone from Australia. The idea of being unable to afford simple antibiotics for a staph infection is mind-blowing to me and a reminder of how good our health system is.
I wish he had included more insights, if he had any, on the stark shock it is to be the patient rather than the doctor. I feel this is something more doctors need to be aware of. Few seem to understand the terror and frustration patients feel when faced with something that they don't understand. What is routine for a doctor, particularly in developed nations, isn't so routine for a patient. The disorientation and fear Donaldson felt when he was unable to get the severity of his symptoms across to a doctor is something I've felt before.
Overall I recommend this book to anyone interested in medicine, and anyone interested in seeing what it takes to treat deadly conditions in some of the poorest nations in the world.
November 10, 2023
This is probably the most torn I have ever felt writing a book review. I really wanted to give 4 stars because I genuinely enjoyed the story and thought it to be a very easy read but I ended up going with 3 due to a few too many shortcomings for me to look past. The most notable of which being the title which I feel misleads the reader and does not do justice for what would have been an otherwise great story. "One Man's Fight Against One of the World's Deadliest Diseases" and stating he "gave up his life of comfort" just seems blatantly misrepresentative of a 2 month international away rotation to me. I do believe there is great merit in his personal stories working with the patients of the Lasa Ward and his fellow aide workers. Overall I think it's Dr. Donaldson's compassion and empathy for his patients and the plight of his fellow aid workers that is the real jewel throughout the book and I would recommend reading it just to get to hear a personal story of such an experience. I also think his story of his personal struggle with myocarditis at the end of the book, while interesting, was probably an unnecessary add on to the overall story and the book could have been more concise.
March 7, 2021
The author, while in medical school, spent a summer working in a meagerly-outfitted hospital ward in Sierra Leone, learning to treat patients afflicted with often-deadly Lassa fever. The author recounts his couple months in Sierra Leone, relating what he learned about life and medicine.
I definitely enjoyed this book. I found it to be a pretty quick read, and I think it did a good job of discussing this sort of medical aid work for someone who doesn't know a ton about it. There was an interesting balance between the human aspects of the work--discussing various patients, and relating interactions with other members of the medical staff--and, at the same time, broader comments on the healthcare system and situation in Sierra Leone and Liberia. I definitely emerged from this book with a strong appreciation for Dr. Conteh, the Sierra Leonean doctor who dedicated his life to treating Lassa fever and who mentored the author during his visit.
I definitely enjoyed this book. I found it to be a pretty quick read, and I think it did a good job of discussing this sort of medical aid work for someone who doesn't know a ton about it. There was an interesting balance between the human aspects of the work--discussing various patients, and relating interactions with other members of the medical staff--and, at the same time, broader comments on the healthcare system and situation in Sierra Leone and Liberia. I definitely emerged from this book with a strong appreciation for Dr. Conteh, the Sierra Leonean doctor who dedicated his life to treating Lassa fever and who mentored the author during his visit.
February 9, 2019
Do No Harm
Thank you Dr. Ross for your efforts and giving heart and soul to the Lassa Ward.
We humans that have running water, endless supply of nourishing food, health care, technology and numerous medical staff available for our call and assistance; accept what we feel is our right, but could be lost in a disaster in a moment.
You brought me right into the ward on rounds with you. The empty medicine cabinets and lack of medical equipment made me question how we humans have failed to help these people! You made a difference!
I cried for the tiny Momo baby boy. Thank God you crossed the gap of what the nurses did and how you fixed it.
I'm very sad that Dr. Ross suffered his own crisis.
I thank you for your sacrifices. I thank you for this amazing book.
Bless you!
Thank you Dr. Ross for your efforts and giving heart and soul to the Lassa Ward.
We humans that have running water, endless supply of nourishing food, health care, technology and numerous medical staff available for our call and assistance; accept what we feel is our right, but could be lost in a disaster in a moment.
You brought me right into the ward on rounds with you. The empty medicine cabinets and lack of medical equipment made me question how we humans have failed to help these people! You made a difference!
I cried for the tiny Momo baby boy. Thank God you crossed the gap of what the nurses did and how you fixed it.
I'm very sad that Dr. Ross suffered his own crisis.
I thank you for your sacrifices. I thank you for this amazing book.
Bless you!
December 23, 2020
I found this book very interesting. It was well written and a fascinating topic. I would have actually liked it developed more & made longer. So for such a quick listen, I couldn’t put it down. I had just finished the book A Long Way Home, about a boy soldier in Sierra Leon, so I was already familiar with some of the struggles & history he mentions. It was interesting hearing two different perspectives of a similar region after listening to both books. Just shocking what happens in that part of the world & how they cope with all their struggles. This books keep you thinking even after you finished & makes you grateful for all we have with safety, security & medicine.
May 4, 2018
La historia real autobiográfica de un estudiante avanzado de medicina que va a Sierra Leona a colaborar en una pabellón muy precario que trata casos de fiebre de Lassa, una fiebre hemorrágica muy mortal, contagiosa y siniestra.
Un poco pomposo el estilo al principio y al final y le sobran la mitad de los adjetivos, pero es tan gracioso y adorable el autor, tan sincero con respecto a lo poco preparado que se siente y tan interesante el tema que me encantó igual.
Super recomendado.
April 12, 2021
I found this memoir to be interesting, but the subtitle misleading. When I read "One Man's Fight Against One of the World's Deadliest Diseases" I assume that the memoir will take place over a long period of time highlighting accomplishments and set-backs in the struggle against the Lassa virus. This memoir is from a brief period of time when the author, a medical school student and public health masters candidate, drops into the dangers of Sierra Leone with its perils of political, economic, and health crises. He is left in charge of the Lassa ward for two weeks all the while feeling inadequate without the backup of Western medical equipment, tests, medicines, and practices.
September 28, 2018
This is a touching memoir of a young medical student who decides to volunteer in the Lassa Fever ward in Sierra Leone; all against the back drop of a civil war in neighboring Liberia. He is a babe in the woods, managing to save some lives under the sparse conditions with very limited resources; My strongest praise is for his writing. Dr. Ross is able to capture the character trait of the nurses and personnel in their local dialect and mannerisms with a warm humor and affection . Extraordinary.
April 28, 2021
Nothing shocking here for those of us already in-the-know about our favorite category of disease : the hemorrhagic fevers.
Great public health book for those of you who want to learn more about international aid work. Easy read without being overly technical.
No reader tears, no five stars. I have my standards.
Great public health book for those of you who want to learn more about international aid work. Easy read without being overly technical.
No reader tears, no five stars. I have my standards.
May 25, 2019
Amazing
I hope this author continues to write about his ongoing medical journey. His eloquence is a gift that few have. His insight and education of those with less inspired me to rise up.
I hope this author continues to write about his ongoing medical journey. His eloquence is a gift that few have. His insight and education of those with less inspired me to rise up.
September 15, 2020
I read this following the completion of Crisis in the Red Zone. While it didn't have the powerful punch of the former book, it is an incredible and eye opening account of being an aid worker in in a war torn country and the challenges of containing deathly disease.
March 10, 2021
had to read this for bio class and it was honestly really good. i got attached to one of the main characters and cried when i heard ab his fate after ross returned to the states. overall a 4.5 read !!
March 30, 2021
I couldn't put this down. It was skillfully written, with just enough medical details for my non-medical mind to understand. The social and emotional impact of his experiences, which are what fascinate me, are where he put his emphasis. Highly recommend.
April 3, 2021
Wonderfully worded
Perhaps it is because I could relate to much of this story that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The descriptions were so vivid one could feel the author’s pain and frustrations.
Perhaps it is because I could relate to much of this story that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The descriptions were so vivid one could feel the author’s pain and frustrations.
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August 29, 2021Very enjoyable read
I really enjoyed this book. It gives the reader a look into a world we will never know. In the United States our expectations are to have great medical care, imagine if our expectations were that we wouldn't,?
I really enjoyed this book. It gives the reader a look into a world we will never know. In the United States our expectations are to have great medical care, imagine if our expectations were that we wouldn't,?
January 9, 2022
An account of a medical student’s summer in Sierra Leone. If you can get past the purple prose, you’ll learn about the virus called Lassa fever and the unspeakable tragedy of how greed and corruption cause so much suffering.
November 14, 2019
I mean, the whole period of time covered in this is like a month.
December 9, 2019
Interesting memoir of a medical student who studies and works in a Lassa ward. He comes across as a very idealistic and compassionate doctor. I hope that as time has passed he's kept those qualities.
December 27, 2020
very interesting memoir about medicine in Africa and the best way to approach global medicaine
August 1, 2023
I felt like this was pretty surface level but I enjoyed the story telling. Quick and easy read that makes you think about health care training.
February 3, 2025
Really more 3.5 stars, would’ve love more info on Lassa in general but I appreciate how the writing structure around the clinic flowed and was often more about access than a big boogy man disease
February 27, 2025
I thought this was a really fun and interesting read! I love books about NTDs from the physician perspective, but I am often frustrated by the “white savior” vibe a lot of them have. While there was a little bit of that here, it wasn’t enough to turn me off from it. I thought the book also did a good job talking about the cultural contexts and all the barriers outside of the hospital walls. Very fun read for a medical student interested in global health. Writing quality is not outstanding, but I wasn’t expecting that anyway from someone who’s not a professional author, and super high quality writing wasn’t the main draw for me anyway
October 20, 2025
A great reminder of how brutal the natural world is and how lucky I am to live in the US with easy access to modern medicine. It really made me realize how much we take it for granted.
May 15, 2009
Donald's memoir recounts his two months working as an aid worker in the Lassa ward in a remote area of Sierra Leone. Lassa fever is highly contagious, similar to Ebola, and requires quarantining the patients and extreme caution by the caregivers in order to prevent spreading the disease.
Donaldson was still a med student during the time he spent in Africa, but due to short staffing and fear of transmission, the Lassa ward served as an excellent training ground for him. I thought his explanations of what could be complicated medical jargon were easy to understand. I also liked the day by day accounting of his experience.
I might have given this book four stars were it not for several jarring proofreading errors. I've kind of become accustomed to spelling errors and disjointed sentence structure, (although it's still a pet peeve) but this book had me stymied as to how it slipped past. There were several paragraphs that were repeated word-for-word in the last portion of the book that had been in the first couple of chapters. I can't imagine that it was deliberate?! It was as if the proofreader used "copy" and "paste" rather than "cut" and "paste" when moving text around. Maybe I'm being petty but I thought it was a careless mistake and it devalued the book for me. I hope they correct the errors if it's reprinted in the future.
Donaldson was still a med student during the time he spent in Africa, but due to short staffing and fear of transmission, the Lassa ward served as an excellent training ground for him. I thought his explanations of what could be complicated medical jargon were easy to understand. I also liked the day by day accounting of his experience.
I might have given this book four stars were it not for several jarring proofreading errors. I've kind of become accustomed to spelling errors and disjointed sentence structure, (although it's still a pet peeve) but this book had me stymied as to how it slipped past. There were several paragraphs that were repeated word-for-word in the last portion of the book that had been in the first couple of chapters. I can't imagine that it was deliberate?! It was as if the proofreader used "copy" and "paste" rather than "cut" and "paste" when moving text around. Maybe I'm being petty but I thought it was a careless mistake and it devalued the book for me. I hope they correct the errors if it's reprinted in the future.
July 27, 2009
This is a true story. A 3rd year medical student (with an MPH) spends a summer in a small village in Sierra Leone, Africa, to help an aging physician that has spent his life educating and caring for populations stricken with the deadly viral hemorrhagic Lassa fever. In the west, it is classified as a bio-safety level 4 disease. When the doctor has to leave town for a few weeks, the student is left on his own to care for the patients. He is overwhelmed due to his lack of knowledge/experience in this area. However, with the help of minimally educated staff that have worked with the elderly physician for years, the student uses his critical thinking medical skills to make life and death decisions about treatment for the patients. Do they have Lassa fever, malaria, or something else? They have no equipment except to do blood typing or administer IV fluids and blood, so diagnosis is a best guess related to symptoms and their progression. They have few antibiotics/antimalarials. Some of the medicines they use are purchased from a local store. This store obtains these meds from someone who steals the clinic's shipment on a regular basis. The student returns home, is stricken with illness, and hangs in the life/death balance himself. This shows another side of how war affects health literacy, medical supply availability, and the selfless commitment of a few to make a difference.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews