Lassa Fever: Symptoms & Signs

Medically Reviewed on 8/24/2020

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever. Lassa fever is not as contagious from person to person as other hemorrhagic fevers, such as that caused by the Ebola virus.

Signs and symptoms of Lassa fever begin from 6 days to 3 weeks after exposure. Symptoms associated with the condition can include

Other symptoms and signs can include

Cause of Lassa fever

The Lassa fever virus causes Lassa fever. It occurs primarily in West Africa and is typically spreads by the urine or feces of Mastomys rats to humans. Direct contact with blood, body fluids, urine, or stool of an infected patient can infect others.

Other lassa fever symptoms and signs

References
Jameson, J. Larry, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 20th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2018.