Assessment of antiviral therapeutics in animal models of Lassa fever.

Lassa virus (LASV) is an emerging zoonotic virus endemic in West Africa that can cause severe haemorrhagic Lassa fever (LF) in humans. LF recently gained international attention as a prominent infectious disease, leading to increasingly severe outbreaks in Nigeria over the past three years. Morbidity and mortality associated with LF disease in Nigeria continue to rise with 106 deaths reported in 2016, 143 in 2017 and 562 in 2018. Despite the significant health impact LF imposes on West Africa there are currently no FDA-approved therapeutics or vaccines available for treatment and prevention. This review focuses on the assessment and current state of LF antiviral therapeutics in animal models and their potential role in reducing disease burden throughout West Africa.