Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness
caused by Lassa virus
, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses. Humans usually become infected with Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.
Do all rats cause Lassa fever?
Lassa fever is a
viral infection carried by
the multimammate rat Mastomys natalensis (M. natalensis). This is one of the most common rodents in equatorial Africa, found across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Lassa fever mainly occurs in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria.
What are the symptoms of Lassa?
For the majority of Lassa fever virus infections (approximately 80%), symptoms are mild and are undiagnosed. Mild symptoms include
slight fever, general malaise and weakness, and headache
.
How does Lassa virus spread?
Transmission of Lassa virus to humans occurs most commonly through
ingestion or inhalation
. Mastomys rodents shed the virus in urine and droppings and direct contact with these materials, through touching soiled objects, eating contaminated food, or exposure to open cuts or sores, can lead to infection.
What are the cure of Lassa fever?
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.
How long can Lassa virus survive outside the body?
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: The virus is stable as an aerosol, particularly at low relative humidity (30 % RH). The biological half-live at both 24°C and 32°C ranges from
10.1 to 54.6 minutes
(20).
Is Lassa fever a pandemic?
Like many potentially pandemic diseases, Lassa fever
is spread by a virus carried by animals
– in this case, rats – and in West Africa where it is endemic it can be as dangerous as Ebola or COVID-19.
How can I protect myself from Lassa fever?
Primary transmission of the Lassa virus from its host to humans can be prevented by
avoiding contact with Mastomys rodents
, especially in the geographic regions where outbreaks occur. Putting food away in rodent-proof containers and keeping the home clean help to discourage rodents from entering homes.
How long does Lassa fever last?
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of
2-21 days
duration that occurs in West Africa.
How is Lassa fever diagnosed?
Lassa fever is most often diagnosed by using
enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assays (ELISA)
, which detect IgM and IgG antibodies as well as Lassa antigen. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) can be used in the early stage of disease.
Where is Lassa fever most common?
Lassa fever is an animal-borne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness. It is endemic in parts of
West Africa including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria
.
When was the first outbreak of Lassa fever?
Lassa fever is an acute viral illness that occurs in west Africa. The illness was discovered in
1969
when two missionary nurses died in Nigeria. The virus is named after the town in Nigeria where the first cases occurred.
Is Lassa fever fatal?
Among patients who are hospitalized with severe clinical presentation of Lassa fever,
case-fatality is estimated at around 15%
. Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival. About 80% of people who become infected with Lassa virus have no symptoms.
Is there a vaccine for Lassa fever?
Currently,
there is no licensed vaccine for Lassa fever
, although numerous candidates are in the development pipeline. These include DNA, RNA, live attenuated, and multiple different viral-vectored vaccine approaches
24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32
.
Is Lassa fever still in Nigeria?
Lassa fever
remains a neglected tropical disease
, despite the virus being discovered more than 50 years ago in Nigeria. It is endemic in West Africa, but very little research has been conducted to date against this disease, for which there is no vaccine.
Can a rat bite make you sick?
Rat bites aren't always serious, but
they can become infected or cause a condition
called rat-bite fever.
