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Lassa Virus

Lassa mammarenavirus

Surface Glycopr…Ribosomes (Sand…RNA Segments

Description

A viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to West Africa. Its name 'Arena' means 'sand', referring to ribosomes inside the virus that look like grains of sand.

TypeArenaviridae

ShapePleomorphic with 'sandy' appearance

Size70 – 150 nm

GenomeSegmented single-stranded RNA (Ambisense)

Discovered1969

Mortality1% overall; 15% for hospitalized cases

Discovery

Discovered in 1969 by Scientists in Lassa, Nigeria

Transmission

Contact with rat urine/feces (Mastomys rats), person-to-person

Symptoms

FeverFacial swellingDeafness (in 25%)Internal bleeding

💊 Treatment / Medicine

Ribavirin (antiviral), supportive care

🛡️ Prevention

Rodent control, safe food storage

💡

Lassa virus looks like it has sand inside it under a microscope—those grains are actually ribosomes the virus stole from its host cell!

Structural Components

Surface Glycoproteins

Spikes that look like club-shaped projections

Ribosomes (Sand)

Stolen host ribosomes inside the virus particle

RNA Segments

Two circular RNA segments (L and S)

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