Lassa Fever

Lassa Fever

News: A recent study shows that climate change may increase the rate of spread of Lassa Fever which is endemic to parts of Western, Central and Eastern Africa continent in the next 50 years. 

About:
• The virus is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the virus family Arenaviridae. The fever is spread by rats and is primarily found in countries in West Africa including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria where it is endemic.
• According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, about 80% of the cases are asymptomatic and therefore remain undiagnosed.

Transmission:
• A person can become infected if they come in contact with household items of food that is contaminated with the urine or feces of an infected rat (zoonotic disease).

Symptoms:
• Mild symptoms include slight fever, fatigue, weakness and headache.
• Serious symptoms include bleeding, difficulty breathing, vomiting, facial swelling, pain in the chest, back, and abdomen and shock.