Patient with Lassa fever symptoms headed to Emory University Hospital

ATLANTA - Emory University Hospital said thehealthcare worker from West Africa who may have Lassa fever arrived in Atlanta on Saturday.

The viral infection can have similar symptoms to Ebola, but it is far less likely to spread from person to person and is far less deadly. The disease infects between 100,000 and 300,000 people in West Africa every year.

Emory isn't revealing much information about the patient, but they said the person is an American doctor who was working for a missionary organization in Togo.

The patient is expect to arrive this weekend and will be housed in the isolation.

Doctors said the first step will be treating the patient’s symptoms. They could know if the person is infected within 48 hours.

Emory University Hospital gained nationwide attention in October 2014 for treating healthcare workers who were suffering from Ebola.