Because the UK information new circumstances, for the primary time since 2009, of the uncommon Lassa Fever the important thing message from public well being leaders up to now is that there’s not but trigger for public concern.
What’s Lassa?
Lassa Fever is an sickness which is brought on by the Lassa Virus. The virus, which is rat-borne, is often contracted by human contact with meals or home items which have been contaminated by the urine or faeces of contaminated rats.
Lassa Virus is present in West African international locations the place the illness is ‘endemic’, which suggests it’s persistently current however restricted to this area.
The ailments is a viral haemorrhagic one reminiscent of Ebola virus illness, malaria, shigellosis, typhoid fever and yellow fever.
What are the signs?
In accordance with the World Well being Organisation round 80 per cent of people that grow to be contaminated with Lassa Virus don’t expertise signs. The general fatality charge is one per cent.
Nonetheless, these with Lassa Fever can expertise, fever, basic weak point within the first few days. After this they might expertise a headache, sore throat, muscle ache, chest ache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and belly ache.
Round one in 5 infections may end up in extreme sickness which might embody facial swelling, fluid within the lungs, bleeding from the mouth, nostril vagina or gastrointestinal tract.
WHO stated shock, seizures, tremor, disorientation and coma could also be seen within the later levels, whereas deafness happens in 25 per cent of recovered sufferers. In half of circumstances listening to will return.
It added: “The illness is extreme late in being pregnant, with maternal loss of life and/or foetal loss in additional than 80 per cent of circumstances throughout the third trimester.”
There’s at present no licensed vaccine for Lassa Fever in keeping with WHO.
The place have the UK circumstances been up to now?
There have been two confirmed circumstances in England up to now, each within the East of England and a 3rd ‘possible’ circumstances who’s being handled at Bedfordshire Hospital.
The circumstances recognized come from throughout the similar household and have been linked to journey to West Africa.
What’s the threat?
The UK Well being Safety Company has up to now stated the danger to the general public is “very low”.
The general public well being authority stated the illness doesn’t unfold simply and that it’s contacting people who’ve had shut contact which the confirmed circumstances.
Previous to the brand new circumstances there have been simply eight recorded within the UK since 1980 with the 2 most just lately recorded in 2009.
Dr Sir Michael Jacobs, guide in infectious ailments on the Royal Free London, stated: ”Imported circumstances not often happen elsewhere on the earth. Such circumstances are virtually completely in individuals who work in endemic areas in high-risk occupations, reminiscent of medical or different assist employees.”
Kaynak: briturkish.com
