Lassa fever

Lassa fever is a disease primarily found in Africa, caused by an arenavirus. It is characterized by symptoms such as high fever, headaches, mouth ulcers, muscle aches, and small hemorrhages under the skin. In severe cases, it can lead to heart and kidney failure and has a high mortality rate.1

Lassa fever is one of several viral hemorrhagic fevers, which are highly fatal diseases marked by bleeding. These fevers are often geographically restricted due to specific animal or insect hosts. Arenaviruses, like the one causing Lassa fever, are typically spread to humans through contact with rodent excreta that contaminates food or soil. While liver cancer is prevalent in some of the same regions as Lassa fever, it is a distinct condition with different causes and characteristics.23