Lassa Fever

An acute viral infection found in West Africa that is characterized by high fever, chest and abdominal pain, headache, sore throat, cough, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Hemorrhagic areas of the skin and mucous membranes may also be present. The disease is caused by an arenavirus and is spread by a contact with a local species of rodent or with the body fluids of an infected person.