Lassa virus

Lassa virus is an arenavirus that causes Lassa fever, a type of viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) in humans and other primates. Lassa virus is an Old World arenavirus that was first described in 1969 in the town of Lassa, in Borno State, Nigeria.

History

The virus is named after the town of Lassa in northern Nigeria where it was first identified. The virus was discovered in 1969 and is a member of the Arenaviridae family, which also includes the Ebola virus.

Transmission

Lassa virus is zoonotic, or animal-borne, and is transmitted to humans from contacts with food or household items contaminated with rodent excrements. The virus is probably transmitted to the rodent population from the environment and is capable of person-to-person transmission.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Lassa fever typically occur 1-3 weeks after the patient comes into contact with the virus. These include fever, retrosternal pain (pain behind the chest wall), sore throat, back pain, cough, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, facial swelling, proteinuria (protein in the urine), and mucosal bleeding.

Treatment

Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival. Ribavirin, an antiviral drug, has been used with success in Lassa fever patients. It has been shown to be most effective when given early in the course of the illness.

Prevention

Prevention of Lassa fever relies on promoting good "community hygiene" to discourage rodents from entering homes. Effective measures include storing grain and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers, disposing of garbage far from the home, maintaining clean households.

See also

• Viral hemorrhagic fever
• Arenaviridae
• Lassa fever
• Ribavirin

Lassa virus Resources
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