The fever may be either constant or intermittent with spikes. Inflammation of the throat and eyes is commonly observed. Hair loss and loss of coordination may occur in convalescence. Immunity to reinfection occurs following infection, but the length of this period of protection is unknown. Inflammation of the throat with white tonsillar patches is an important distinguishing feature.
Definitive diagnosis requires testing that is available only in highly specialized laboratories.
Laboratory specimens may be biohazardous and must be handled with extreme care at the highest level biosafety containment. Treatment Specific treatment with the anti-viral drug, ribavirin may be effective if given within the first six days of illness. Ribavirin should be given intravenously for ten days. Epidemiology Lassa fever occurs in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and regions of Nigeria. Lassa infection in rodents persists and the virus is shed throughout the life of the animal.