United Kingdom has reported its first death from Lassa fever as two others infected. Lassa fever, a deadly haemorrhagic virus, has arrived in Britain for the first time in more than a decade.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), three people from the same family have been diagnosed with the disease after travelling to the UK from West Africa, where Lassa is endemic. One person has sadly died.
Here’s everything you need to know about Lassa fever, including symptoms; how it is spread and how to treat the virus.
What are the symptoms of Lassa fever?
Lassa is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness which generally lasts between two and 21 days and affects several organs such as the liver, spleen and kidneys.
Sufferers of Lassa fever initially experience flu-like symptoms – such as fever, general weakness, and malaise – the range of characteristics can make it difficult to distinguish from other diseases.
However, after a few days a headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and abdominal pain may kick in.
Around one in five infections trigger severe illness, where patients may experience bleeding from the vagina, mouth or nose, as well as severe facial swelling and fluid-filled lungs. Some people may also experience seizures or go into a coma. In fatal cases, a person is likely to die within two weeks.
The vast majority of patients will recover. The virus is estimated to have a case fatality rate of one per cent, although this rises to 15 per cent among those hospitalised.
However, hearing loss typically occurs in around a quarter of survivors, according to the WHO.
What is Lassa fever?
Lassa is a zoonotic virus, meaning it comes from animals – in this case, the multimammate rat. It was first identified in 1969, and it is known to be endemic across West Africa – including in countries like Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
