Horrific ‘Rat Fever’ kills over 100 people – and scientists fear it may MUTATE in pandemic
AN OUTBREAK of a fever which causes victims to bleed out their mouths – killing more than 100 people – was found to have been spread by rats amid fears it could mutate again in a major pandemic
By Henry Holloway
DailyStar.co.uk
18th October 2018
Scientists investigating the largest outbreak of Lassa Fever in Nigeria this year have discovered the rodents were the culprits.
The revelation is a chilling echo of the Black Death – which was spread by fleas carried by rats during the Middle Ages, killing 100 million.
Lassa fever causes people to bleed from their mouthsand anuses – and also leads to vomiting and muscle pains.
Nigeria managed to contain the outbreak, but a new study reveals fears it could mutate to be able to spread from person-to-person.
Genomes form the virus were harvested to analyse how best to combat any future outbreaks of Lassa fever.
Nigerian authorities reported around 514 people were infected with the virus between January and September.
African soft-furred rats are believed to have spread the infection by coming into contact with food stores.
At least 134 people were killed – with the infection also spreading in contact between bodily fluids.
Nigeria Centre of Disease Control (NCDC) said they had faced more cases than usual amid fears of new mutated form of the virus.
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