ലThe first case of H5N1 virus has been reported in the UK. UK health officials say a man has died after being treated at a hospital in Bedfordshire. The confirmation of Lassa fever in the UK is alarming as Kovid is recovering from the impact of the third wave. At the same time, only three people across the country were confirmed to have the flu. Health experts point out that Lassa is less likely to spread widely and therefore does not pose a major threat to public health.
What is lassa fever
Lassa fever is a viral disease found only in some parts of West Africa. The first case was reported in 1969 in Lhasa, Nigeria. With this, the virus was named Lassa. All three cases currently confirmed in the UK are members of one family. They were also on a recent trip to West Africa. Lassa fever has been confirmed in the UK for the first time in a decade.
Symptoms
Lassa fever has symptoms similar to those common to Ebola in Africa. The virus can be transmitted to others through the body fluids of infected people. The African Wolverine Rat is a carrier of the virus in West Africa.
Symptoms include fever and headache, as well as pain in the limbs. Sore throat, dry cough, chest pain and abdominal pain may also occur. In severe cases, bleeding may occur through the nose, mouth, and other parts of the body. Lassa is misdiagnosed as having other diseases at various stages and cannot be detected early.
People with serious illness are at risk of death. However, the mortality rate is only one per cent. Pregnant women are more likely to be affected by Lassa infection.