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Mahesh

21/09/22 16:57 PM IST

Lassa fever

In News 
  • The death toll of Lassa fever in Nigeria this year has risen to 171, despite measures by the government to reduce infections across the country.
Lassa Fever 
  • Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus, which belongs the family Arenaviridae.
  • It was first discovered in Nigeria in 1969.
  • Humans get infected with this pathogen after being exposed to contaminated food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of the infected Mastomys rats.
  • This virus is found among the rodent population in several parts of West Africa.
  • It is endemic in African countries such as Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo and Nigeria. About 80 per cent of people who are infected with Lassa fever are asymptomatic. 
  • Mild symptoms include slight fever, fatigue, weakness and headache. Serious symptoms include bleeding, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, pain in chest, back and abdomen, swelling of face and shock.
  • Death occurs two weeks after the onset of symptoms.
  • It mainly occurs because of multiple organ failure.
Source- Business Standard 

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