How is Lassa fever transmitted from person to person?

How is Lassa fever transmitted from person to person?

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.

How contagious is Lassa virus?

Unlike Ebola virus, Lassa fever is not as contagious person to person, nor as deadly. Lassa virus is typically transmitted by the urine or feces of Mastomys rats to humans. Health workers may be infected by direct contact with blood, body fluids, urine, or stool of a patient with Lassa fever.

How can you prevent the spread of Lassa fever?

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 and keeping cats.

Is there a cure for Lassa?

Deafness is a known complication of Lassa fever. Ribavirin is an antiviral drug that treats the infection. There is no currently available vaccine for Lassa fever.

How many people died from Lassa virus?

Although the disease was first discovered in 1969, it was most likely endemic in West Africa before that. Every year, between 100,000 and 300,000 people become sick with Lassa fever, and it kills around 5,000 people, almost all in West Africa.

Is there a cure for Lassa virus?

Although Lassa virus was first described over 5 decades ago in 1969, no treatments or vaccines have been approved to treat or prevent infection.

How fatal is Lassa fever?

The overall case-fatality rate is 1%. 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.

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 approaches24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32.

Does ribavirin cure 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 is Lassa virus transmitted from person to person?

In addition, Mastomys readily colonize human homes and areas where food is stored. All of these factors contribute to the relatively efficient spread of Lassa virus from infected rodents to humans. Transmission of Lassa virus to humans occurs most commonly through ingestion or inhalation.

Where is Lassa virus found in the world?

Lassa virus is a RNA virus belonging to the family of Arenaviridae. It was discovered as the causative agent of a hemorrhagic fever–Lassa fever–about 30 years ago. Lassa fever is endemic in West Africa and is estimated to affect some 100,000 people annually. Great progress in the understanding of …

How many people are killed by the Lassa virus?

The Lassa virus causes Lassa fever, which is a hemorrhagic fever that is severe and can often be fatal. Some sources state that it affects 2-3 million people yearly (killing 5,000-10,000), while others maintain that it affects only 100,000-300,000.

How long does it take to get Lassa fever?

In some areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia, it is known that 10-16% of people admitted to hospitals annually have Lassa fever, demonstrating the serious impact the disease has on the region. People are infected through contact with an infected rodent… Symptoms of Lassa fever typically occur 1-3 weeks after exposure to the virus…