The Lassa virus is a member of the virus family, and it is zoonotic or animal-borne in nature. Lassa fever, Ebola fever and Marburg fever are similar in characteristics and members of the Arenaviridae virus family.

They are classified as haemorrhagic fevers, because they cause severe haemorrhaging in victims. Though 80 per cent of infections elicit no symptoms, if they do occur, they can be quite nasty. Starting with a fever, this can develop into chest pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Lagos, Jan 9 (IANS) The toll in the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria has risen to 40, the government said.

Casualties were recorded in 10 states of the country, Xinhua quoted Minister of Health Isaac Adewole as saying on Friday.

Adewole advised communities to improve their hygiene, including food hygiene and food protection practices.