Q. Lassa Fever, which was seen in the news, is spread by which species?
Answer: Rats
Notes: Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease, gained attention after a recent death in Iowa of a traveler from West Africa. It is caused by the Lassa virus from the Arenaviridae family, with Mastomys rats as the primary reservoir. Common in West African countries like Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, it affects up to 300,000 people annually with around 5,000 deaths. India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare classifies Lassa fever as internationally significant, though no cases have been reported in India until 2022. Transmission occurs through contaminated food or human-to-human via bodily fluids, especially in healthcare settings. Symptoms start with fever, weakness, and malaise, progressing to severe headache, muscle pain, and possibly organ failure.

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