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Lassa fever (Viral hemorrhagic fever)
Lassa fever, also known as Lassa hemorrhagic fever, is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus
Prevalence
Age of Onset
ICD-10
-
Inheritance
This condition does not appear to have a clear pattern of inheritance.
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Lassa fever is an animal-borne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness. It is endemic in parts of West Africa including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria. Neighboring countries are also at risk, as the animal vector for Lassa virus, the “multimammate rat” (Mastomys natalensis) is distributed throughout the region.†
5 Facts you should know
FACT
In severe disease (~20% of infected individuals), Lassa fever causes serious symptoms including hemorrhaging, respiratory distress, vomiting, facial swelling, pain in the chest, back, and abdomen, and shock.
FACT
Signs and symptoms of Lassa fever typically occur 1-3 weeks after the patient comes into contact with the virus.
FACT
Lassa fever is an animal-borne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness.
FACT
The reservoir (host) of Lassa virus is a rodent known as the “multimammate rat”.
FACT
It is endemic in parts of West Africa including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria.
Interest over time
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Common signs & symptoms
Fatigue
Fever
Abdominal pain
Arthralgia
Joint pain
Chest pain
Decreased liver function
Diarrhea
Epistaxis
Current treatments
Top Clinical Trials
Title | Description | Phases | Status | Interventions | More Information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Safety, Tolerability and Immunogenicity of INO-4500 in Healthy Volunteers | This is a randomized and double-blinded within study group, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunological profile of INO-4500 administered by intradermal (ID) injection followed by electroporation using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device in healthy adult volunteers. | Phase 1 | Completed | Drug: INO-4500|Drug: Placebo|Device: CELLECTRA® 2000 | More Info |
A Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of rVSV∆G-LASV-GPC Vaccine in Adults in Good General Heath | A Phase 1 Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled, Dose-escalation Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of rVSV∆G-LASV-GPC Vaccine in Adults in Good General Health | Phase 1 | Recruiting | Drug: rVSV∆G-LASV-GPC|Other: Placebo/Diluent | More Info |
Top Treatments in Research
Agent | Class/Mechanism of Action | Development Status | Company | Clinical Studies | More Information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
INO-4500 | INO-4500 is a DNA vaccine encoding the LASV Josiah strain GPC gene (pLASV-GPC), which is codon-optimised to enhance expression in the recipient species (i.e. guinea pigs or macaques). | Phase 1 | Inovio Pharmaceuticals|Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations | More Info | More Info |
rVSV∆G-LASV-GPC | This vaccine is based on an attenuated strain of vesicular stomatitis virus that has been modified to express a Lassa fever virus protein that plays an essential role in establishing virus infection. | Phase 1 | International AIDS Vaccine Initiative|George Washington University|Brigham and Women's Hospital|Redemption Hospital|East-West Medical Research Institute | More Info | More Info |
† Centers for Disease Control and Prevention