LASSA
Arenavirus family. Diameter: 110-130 nm. Genome
size: ~10.6
kb.
Description: Arenaviruses are linear, ssRNA, ambisense, helical,
and
dipartite. Lassa is part of the Old World serogroup, named to reflect the
geographic distribution of infection. Lassa is endemic in parts of West
Africa.
Power: Ability to cause epidemics with 5-15% mortality rates.
Offenses:
Attacks --> spread through rodents (urine and droppings) and
infected individuals.
Outcome --> symptoms are nonspecific and can include fever,
chest pain, sore throat, back pain, cough, abdominal pain, vomiting,
diarrhea, and mucosal bleeding. Infection commonly results in deafness;
15-20% of patients are hospitalized, 1% die. Spontaneous abortion
occurs in 95% of maternal infections.
Speed --> 1-3 week incubation period.
Defenses:
Vaccines --> none, although research for a vaccine is
underway.
Behavioral --> end the use of rodents for food in parts of
Africa; increase hygeine within rodent-infested homes. Avoid contact
with rodents, in general.
Treatment --> Ribavirin (effective when given early).
Game Action --> Lassa may disguise itself by inciting a variety of
non-specific syndromes in its host. Flip a coin, if heads, lassa is
quickly diagnosed and treated with Ribavirin.
Rodents: don't let them into your house and don't eat
them!
References:
Medical Virology pp. 501, 504-5
CDC
Lassa Web Page
Witney
McKiernan
Arenavirus
2000 Home
Humans and Viruses
Human Biology 115A
Winter, 2000
Robert Siegel, instructor
Comments?
Created: February 1, 1998
Last modified: March 5, 2000