Nigeria: Lassa fever disease outbreak kills dozens
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The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed two cases of Lassa Fever in a family “from the East of England” and suspect a third person from the family has also contracted the illness. The family had recently returned to the UK from West Africa, which is where it is thought they contracted the illness. The UK has only seen eight cases of this disease since 1980, but the UKHSA has described the risk to the UK public as “very low”. What is Lassa Fever?
Lassa Fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 80 percent of people with Lassa Fever have no symptoms.
However, around one in five infections will result in severe disease where the virus affects multiple organs, and can become life-threatening.
Lassa virus is often contracted after being exposed to food or surfaces contaminated with urine or faeces of infected rats in a number of West African countries where the disease is endemic.
WHO lists countries where the disease is endemic as:
- Benin (where it was diagnosed for the first time in November 2014)
- Ghana (diagnosed for the first time in October 2011)
- Guinea
- Liberia
- Mali (diagnosed for the first time in February 2009)
- Sierra Leone
- Nigeria
The virus can also be spread through infected bodily fluids.
What are the symptoms of Lassa Fever?
According to the WHO, the incubation period for Lassa Fever can range between six and 21 days.
Although many people are asymptomatic, those with symptoms may notice a gradual onset of symptoms as they incubate the disease.
Normally the first symptoms are fever, general weakness and feeling lethargic.
After a few days, the WHO said patients may develop:
- headache
- sore throat
- muscle pain
- chest pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- cough
- abdominal pain
The WHO said: “in severe cases facial swelling, fluid in the lung cavity, bleeding from the mouth, nose, vagina or gastrointestinal tract and low blood pressure may develop.”
In around 25 percent of those who survive the disease, they can develop deafness.
However half of those who develop deafness regain their hearing within three months of their recovery.
Lassa Fever is particularly dangerous for pregnant women.
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Since 1980, there have only been eight confirmed cases of Lassa Fever in the UK.
Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at UKHSA said: “We can confirm that two cases of Lassa Fever have been identified in England, and a further probable case is under investigation.
“The cases are within the same family and are linked to recent travel to West Africa.
“Cases of Lassa fever are rare in the UK and it does not spread easily between people.
“The overall risk to the public is very low.
“We are contacting the individuals who have had close contact with the cases prior to confirmation of their infection, to provide appropriate assessment, support and advice.”
The UKHSA emphasises that most people make a full recovery from Lassa Fever and has confirmed one of the individuals with Lassa Fever has recovered.
The other person with a confirmed case is receiving specialist care at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.
The third person with a “probable case” of the illness is being treated at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
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