Here are 10 main facts you need to know about the Virus 1. Lassa fever was first discovered in 1969 when two missionary nurses died in Borno, Nigeria. The virus is named after the town in Nigeria where the first cases occurred. 2. Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness duration that occurs mainly in West Africa and is a member of the Arenaviridae virus family. 3. Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease and is spread through the Mastomys rodent.Mastomys rats infected with Lassa virus do not become ill, but they can shed the virus in their urine and faeces. 4. Humans usually become infected with Lassa virus from exposure to urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.Lassa virus may also be spread between humans through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, or other bodily secretions of a person infected with Lassa fever.

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