The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced the death of a person suffering from Lassa fever on Friday, saying the patient was treated at a Bedfordshire hospital in England before passing away. The illness is extremely rare in the country.
News of the death comes after two people were confirmed to be infected with the Ebola-like virus on Wednesday, having recently returned from West Africa. The person who died was their relative.
“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 risk to the general public remains very low,” the UKHSA stated.
A Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said that a robust contact tracing exercise would be launched.
Lassa fever is caused by the Lassa virus and hasn’t been seen in the UK for 13 years. Eight cases of Lassa fever have been detected in the country since 1980.
It is normally contracted by exposure to foods and household items which are contaminated with the urine or feces of infected rats. It can pass from human-to-human through bodily fluids, similar to Ebola.
Symptoms of the illness include weakness, headaches, and vomiting. It can also lead to bleeding from the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, or vagina.
It is understood that some 5,000 people a year die from Lassa fever, although the mortality rate is lower than Ebola.