Helen Branswell covers issues broadly related to infectious diseases, including outbreaks, preparedness, research, and vaccine development. Follow her on Mastodon and Bluesky. You can reach Helen on ...

Scientists plan to use their new map of the Lassa virus surface glycoprotein to design a much-needed vaccine. A new study from scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) gives researchers a ...

Since doctors first identified Lassa fever in 1969, when four missionary nurses died from the viral haemorrhagic illness in the town of Lassa in Borno State, outbreaks have taken place frequently, ...

German doctors are puzzled by the first outbreak of Lassa fever outside Africa. They say three people are suspected of having been infected after having contact with an American who died of Lassa ...

Researchers report the results of the first ever genome-wide association study (GWAS) of a biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) virus. The team found two key human genetic factors that could help explain why ...

Eleven-year-old Delma Rivera was excited. It was just before Thanksgiving 1969, and her favorite uncle — her tío — was coming from his home in Connecticut to visit the Rivera family at their York ...

A case of Lassa fever has been reported in Paris, France, sparking lurid warnings about the “horrific Ebola-like bug”. As the name suggests, Lassa fever causes a high temperature, but also weakness, ...