Lassa fever that’s been more undetected in England for a decade reappears, one dead

LONDON, KOMPAS.com – A patient died in Bedfordshire after being found suffering lassa feverwhen the total number of cases of people diagnosed with disease it’s in English be three.

The death came less than 48 hours after it was revealed that two people had been diagnosed with the potentially deadly infectious disease and a third “possible” case was being investigated.

Also read: African Swine Fever Is Dangerous to Humans?

But in an update on Friday (11/2/2022), the UK’s Health Safety Administration (UKHSA) said a “probable” case had now been confirmed and had died.

It is the first time cases of the potentially deadly infectious disease, caused by the Lassa virus, have been identified in the UK for more than a decade.

“The UK Health Safety Board can confirm that the possible cases of Lassa fever under investigation are now confirmed, bringing the total number of cases to three. Unfortunately, this individual has died,” said UKHSA.

“We contact individuals who had close contact with cases prior to confirmation of their infection, to provide appropriate assessment, support and advice. The risk to the general public remains very low.”

A spokesman for the Bedfordshire hospital’s NHS foundation also confirmed the death of a confirmed Lassa fever patient who was in his care, and offered his condolences to the family.

“We will continue to support our patients’ families and staff and work closely with colleagues from UKHSA to conduct robust contact tracing exercises.”

Also read: Biography of Walter Reed, Pioneer Physician in Handling the Typhoid and Yellow Fever Epidemic

One of the two previously confirmed cases has recovered, while UKHSA said Wednesday that a second patient is receiving specialist care at London’s Royal Free NHS Foundation.

Three of the cases are in the same family in eastern England and are linked to a recent trip to west Africa.

–
–