First found in 1969 in the town of Lassa in Nigeria, Lassa fever is known to be a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF). Because of where it was found, Lassa fever is endemic to mostly West African countries and causes about 5,000 deaths a year. VHF's are illnesses which exist in both human and animals and are derived from the RNA virus. The VHF's responsible for the Lassa fever are associating with bleeding disorders that may lead to shock and in a few extreme cases, death. Lassa fever is contracted primarily in grain stores, in which many people may come in contact with animal feces and urine.
Lassa fever comes from the lassus virus, which a single enveloped, double segmented RNA virus. The first genome segment is responsible for copying the mRNA genome and the second segment enages in translation processes; the spike proteins produced from this cycle are usually undetected from the host's immune system. The lassus virus is known to affect every tissue within the body. Before reaching its final destination, the vascular system, it will penetrate the body's mucous, intestine, lungs and urinary system.
Since complete prevention of the Lassa virus is unlikely, governments often try to keep animals such as rodents out of grain stores or other public places in which they can be found. When one is infected, gloves are mandatory to use. At the USAMRIID facility, an able vaccine replicant against the virus is being developed. Symptons for the lassus fever include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache, constipation, dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) and hepatitis. The symptons can lead to other systems within the body related to cardiovascular, respiratory and neuronal. If one is diagnosed with the disease, he should immediately be transported to an isolated facility and his excretions should be carefully discarded.