One person has died of Ebola-like Lassa fever in the UK. The Briton was one of three confirmed cases. According to the British authorities, the three infected people had recently stayed in West Africa. Is the next pandemic imminent?
One person has died of Lassa fever in the UK.
Image: AdobeStock/ jarun011 (icon image)
During the coronaviruspandemic is still not banned, the next plague is already spreading. As recently reported by the British “Daily Star”, a man in England has died of Ebola-like Lassa fever. He was one of three infected people who appeared to have recently traveled to West Africa.
Lassa fever outbreak in England: one dead from plague
The news portal quoted a spokesman for the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: “We confirm the sad death of a patient in our trust who has been confirmed to have Lassa fever. We offer our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time.” According to the authorities, there is no reason for concern for the population.
Skin bleeding, diarrhea, vomiting: Lassa fever can be fatal
Like Ebola and Dengue fever, Lassa fever is one of the so-called haemorrhagic fevers. The Lassa pathogens can cause fever, headaches and muscle pain, later skin bleeding, diarrhea and vomiting are possible. The infection can be fatal, as in the case of the late Briton. People usually get stuck with that Virus when they come into contact with food or objects covered with rat urine or feces. However, it can also be transmitted through infected bodily fluids.
Eight cases of Lassa fever since 1980
Most people who get Lassa fever make a full recovery. The fever has its origins in the town of Lassa in northern Nigeria, which is also the namesake. Lassa fever has an incubation period of 21 days. “The disease is not easily transmissible from person to person. The overall risk to the population is very low,” said Dr. Suzanne Hopkins. Prior to these three cases, there have been eight cases of Lassa fever imported into the UK since 1980, according to UK authorities. The last two cases happened in 2009.
follow News.de already at Facebook and YouTube? Here you will find the hottest news, the latest videos, great competitions and a direct line to the editors.
fka/news.de/dpa
