1. Lassa Fever
by Carly Brown

2. Discovery
John Frame
1969
collaborated with Yale Arbovirus Research Unit

3. Type/Structure Arenaviridae family spherical lipid membrane
single-stranded RNA

4. Transportation zoonotic host-multimammate rat genus Mastomys
person to person

5. Transportation(cont.)
urine & droppings
direct contact
airborne transmission

6. Demographic Info.
at risk- those who live in areas with Mastomys rodents

7. Statistics 100,000 - 300,000 infections a year 5,000 deaths
accounts for 10-16% admitted to hospitals

8. Facts 80% - no observable symptoms 20% - severe multisystem disease
1-3 weeks after contracted

9. Symptoms fever malaise throat lesions pneumonia abdominal pain
vomiting
diarrhea

10. Symptoms(etc.) retrosternal pain back pain cough conjunctivitis
facial swelling
mucosal bleeding

11. Neurological Problems
tremors
hearing loss
deafness occurs in 1/3 of cases

12. Miscellaneous 15-20% patients hospitalized die 95% fetuses die
risky-women in 3rd trimester

13. Ribavirin
antiviral drug
used with success

14. Sources