Introduction+-+Lassa+Fever

Lassa Fever is an acute, viral hemorrhagic fever and is caused by the Lassa Virus. The virus was first discovered in Lassa, Nigeria near Lake Chad. The disease is endemic to West Africa and is transmitted zoonotically from rats to humans through their urine and feces. Humans come into contact with the disease when the Lassa viris carrying rodent infiltrate grain stores and residences or when in contact with another infected and contagious human. "The symptoms of the virus cannot be seen in about 80% of infected patients leaving the other 20% with very severe multisystem disease." (CDC).