Two people in Great Britain tested positive for Lassa fever, a virus very similar toEbola. The infected, two members of the same family, recently returned from West Africa. They are among the ten cases registered in the UK since 2009. A third relative awaiting tests is in isolation on suspicion of Ebola infection. One of the patients was transferred to the roal
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Lassa fever, two cases in Britain
The UK Health Safety Agency said there is currently no evidence of further infection. Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and many other countries on the west coast of Africa, including Liberia and Guinea. People usually become infected after exposure to food or objects contaminated with urine or feces of infected rats. But the virus can also be transmitted through body fluids. About 80% of people who contract the disease do not experience any symptoms, according to the World Health Organization (who). And while most people recover completely, the virus can be fatal in about 1% of cases.
To O people in England test positive for Lassa Fever https://t.co/M1oBu55gO9 pic.twitter.com/edDEzcpGmk
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Symptom
Among those who experience symptoms, a quarter of patients experience temporary deafness that will eventually return. Other symptoms include headache, sore throat and vomiting. It can also provoke bleeding from the mouth, nose or vagina. However, they can gradually progress to shock, convulsions, tremors, disorientation and coma without timely treatment. Patients are treated with antivirals, and sometimes with blood pressure and oxygen medications.