Virology: Lassa fever: practice question

A Microbiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Microbiology · Virology: Lassa fever

Sample item

A traveller from West Africa who lived in a rodent-infested hut has fever, sore throat, retrosternal pain and facial oedema. Sensorineural hearing loss appears during convalescence. Which virus is the likely cause?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Lassa virus

Lassa virus is an arenavirus whose reservoir is the multimammate rat, Mastomys natalensis, and it spreads through rodent excreta. Pharyngitis, chest pain and later sensorineural deafness are typical, and ribavirin is used for treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Ebola virus

    Ebola has a suspected bat reservoir and causes rapid haemorrhagic shock; deafness is not a typical feature.

  • B. Lassa virus (correct)

    Correct. A rodent-borne febrile illness with pharyngitis and later deafness is Lassa fever.

  • C. Yellow fever virus

    Yellow fever is mosquito-borne and causes jaundice with black vomit.

  • D. Rabies virus

    Rabies is transmitted by animal bites and causes hydrophobia and encephalitis.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Microbiology questions

Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is B, Lassa virus. Lassa virus is an arenavirus whose reservoir is the multimammate rat, Mastomys natalensis, and it spreads through rodent excreta.

Why is "Ebola virus" not the answer?

Ebola has a suspected bat reservoir and causes rapid haemorrhagic shock; deafness is not a typical feature.

Why is "Yellow fever virus" not the answer?

Yellow fever is mosquito-borne and causes jaundice with black vomit.

Why is "Rabies virus" not the answer?

Rabies is transmitted by animal bites and causes hydrophobia and encephalitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Virology: Lassa fever in Microbiology. Pharyngitis, chest pain and later sensorineural deafness are typical, and ribavirin is used for treatment.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Virology: Lassa fever?

Make a one-line identity card for each organism: shape and stain, defining test, toxin, disease and drug. Then use the flashcards and the other Microbiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.