Effects of Lassa Fever In The United Kingdom

What is Lassa fever?

The Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses, causes an acute viral hemorrhagic sickness known as Lassa fever.
Humans are commonly infected with the Lassa virus after eating or touching food or household objects that have been contaminated with the urine or feces of sick Mastomys rats. In portions of West Africa, the disease is endemic in the rodent population.

According to WHO, the importance of early diagnosis and treatment cannot be understated. The case-fatality rate, in general, is 1%. Case mortality is estimated to be over 15% among Lassa fever patients admitted to hospitals with severe clinical manifestations. Early supportive care, such as rehydration and symptomatic therapy, increases the chances of survival.

About 80% of persons infected with the Lassa virus show no signs or symptoms. One out of every five infections leads to serious disease, with the virus affecting many organs, including the liver, spleen, and kidneys.

Impact of Lassa fever in the United Kingdom:

 

In the last week, three new confirmed cases of Lassa fever have been reported in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, one of these people has already died at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, which is run by the Bedfordshire Hospitals National Health Services (NHS) Foundation Trust, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Lassa fever isn’t very common in the United Kingdom. After 1980, just eight cases have been documented in the United Kingdom, with no incidents since two cases were reported in 2009.

“The patients are from the same family and are linked to recent travel to West Africa,” said Susan Hopkins, MB, BCh, BAO, MSC, FRCPI, FRCP, Chief Medical Advisor at UKHSA. In areas of West Africa, such as Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Nigeria, Lassa fever is endemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Lassa fever affects between 100,000 and 300,000 people worldwide each year, resulting in 5,000 deaths.