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United kingdom: An imported case of lassa fever in a traveller from nigeria. (hpa)

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  • United kingdom: An imported case of lassa fever in a traveller from nigeria. (hpa)

    HPA - Case of Lassa Fever in Specialist Unit in London
    Case of Lassa Fever in Specialist Unit in London

    23 January 2009

    The Health Protection Agency can confirm that a patient is being treated for Lassa fever at the high security infectious diseases unit at the Royal Free Hospital.


    This is an isolated case in a traveller who returned to the UK, from Nigeria, on the 6th January.

    There is no risk to the general public as a result of this case.

    The patient was initially admitted to Homerton University Hospital on 8th January, and then transferred to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College Hospital on 22nd January.

    The Homerton carried out testing for a wide range of common infections associated with travel to Africa, all of which tested negative.

    Following this samples were referred to the Health Protection Agency and the diagnosis of Lassa fever was made on the 22nd January.

    At this point the patient was moved to the Royal Free where they could receive the appropriate treatment.

    Dr Dilys Morgan a Lassa fever expert at the Health Protection Agency said;

    "This is an isolated case of Lassa fever in a traveller who has recently returned from Nigeria. It is important to stress that there is no risk to the general public from this patient."

    Lassa fever is an infection that is found in West Africa and is seen rarely in this country in those who have travelled to parts of the world where it is common. The infection is not easily spread to others and then only by direct contact with bodily fluids.

    The usual incubation period for Lassa fever is 7-10 days.

    The symptoms include a fever, headache, sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and muscle pain.

    "We are working closely with Homerton University Hospital and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College Hospital to identify any members of staff who may have been involved in the care of this patient, and who came into contact with their bodily fluids. These people will be provided with information about Lassa fever and asked to get in contact with us should they develop any symptoms. Patients and visitors to the hospital are not at risk"

    Notes to Editors:
    Lassa fever is an acute illness caused by Lassa virus and known to be endemic in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and the Central African Republic, and there is evidence of infection in nearby countries including Mali, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The virus is shed in the urine and droppings of infected rats so most infections arise through contact with materials contaminated by these.

    Information on Lassa fever and other viral haemorrhagic fevers can be found at https://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/to...z/VHF/menu.htm
    Information about the condition of the patient can be obtained from the Royal Free Press Office on 0207 830 2963 for more information about the Royal Free high security infectious diseases unit please go to: http://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/default....d=1&tab_id=453
    For further information please contact the press office on 0207 759 2824/2834.
    For out of hours calls please phone 0208 200 4400.
    Last reviewed: 23 January 2009
    -
    <cite cite="http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1232698039715?p=1231252394302">HPA - Case of Lassa Fever in Specialist Unit in London</cite>

  • #2
    Re: United kingdom: An imported case of lassa fever in a traveller from nigeria. (hpa)

    LASSA FEVER - UNITED KINGDOM ex NIGERIA
    ***************************************
    A ProMED-mail post
    <http://www.promedmail.org>
    ProMED-mail is a program of the
    International Society for Infectious Diseases
    <http://www.isid.org>

    Date: Fri 23 Jan 2009
    Source: Channel 4 News, PA News [edited]
    <http://www.channel4.com/news/article...+fever/2909847>


    Africa traveller has Lassa fever
    --------------------------------
    A patient is being treated in hospital for Lassa fever, which can
    cause deafness [among other things], a health watchdog said. The
    patient travelled in Nigeria before returning to the United Kingdom
    (UK) and is now being treated at the high security infectious
    diseases unit at the Royal Free Hospital in north London. The Health
    Protection Agency (HPA) said the patient, whose gender is not being
    disclosed, represented an isolated case and there was no risk to the
    general public.

    Lassa fever is caused by Lassa virus and is endemic in Nigeria,
    Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and the Central African Republic.
    Hundreds of thousands of people are infected in these countries each
    year and isolated cases have been seen in Europe and the US [imported
    from Africa - Mod.CP]. Infection also occurs in other African
    countries including Mali, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Around 8 in 10 people infected with Lassa virus develop mild or no
    symptoms, but in 20 percent of cases people will have severe illness.
    Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, a cough, nausea,
    vomiting, diarrhoea and muscle pain. Around 2 percent of all patients
    die from the illness and death rates are particularly high in women
    in the final months of pregnancy. A common complication of Lassa
    fever is deafness.

    --
    Communicated by:
    HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
    <promed@promedmail.org>

    [Lassa viral haemorrhagic fever is an acute illness of 1-4 weeks
    duration that occurs in West Africa. Though 1st described in the
    1950s, the virus causing the disease was not identified until 1969.
    The virus is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the virus
    family _Arenaviridae_. Lassa fever is known to be endemic in Guinea
    (Conakry), Liberia, Sierra Leone and parts of Nigeria, but probably
    in other West African countries as well.

    Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease, meaning that humans become
    infected from contact with infected animals. The animal reservoir of
    Lassa virus is a rodent of the genus _Mastomys_, commonly known as
    the "multimammate rat." Mastomys infected with Lassa virus do not
    become ill, but they can shed the virus in their excreta (urine and faeces).

    Lassa fever occurs in all age groups and in both men and women.
    Persons at greatest risk are those living in rural areas where
    Mastomys are usually found, especially in areas of poor sanitation or
    crowded living conditions. Health care workers are at risk if proper
    barrier nursing and infection control practices are not maintained.

    Family members and health care workers should always be careful to
    avoid contact with blood and body fluids while caring for sick
    persons. Routine barrier nursing precautions probably protect against
    transmission of Lassa virus in most circumstances. However, for added
    safety, patients suspected to have Lassa fever should be cared for
    under specific "isolation precautions," which include the wearing of
    protective clothing such as masks, gloves, gowns, and face shields,
    and the systematic sterilization of contaminated equipment. The
    antiviral drug ribavirin is effective treatment for Lassa fever if
    given early on in the course of clinical illness.

    Further information can be obtained from the World Health
    Organisation Web site at:
    <http://www.who.int/mediacentre/facts.../en/index.html>. - Mod.CP]

    [A map showing the countries in West Africa mentioned above is
    available at:
    <http://everythingspossible.files.wor...est-africa.jpg>
    - Copyed.EJP]

    [see also:
    2008
    ----
    Lassa fever - Nigeria (02 20080611.1847
    Lassa fever - Nigeria: (Ebonyi) 20080323.1100
    2007
    ----
    Lassa fever - Nigeria 20071205.3925
    Lassa Fever - South Africa ex Nigeria 20070222.0657
    205
    ----
    Lassa fever - Nigeria (Edo) 20050303.0654
    Lassa fever - Nigeria (Edo) 20040214.0487
    Lassa fever - Nigeria: RFI 20040213.0482
    2001
    ----
    Lassa fever, suspected - Nigeria (Edo) (02) 20010319.0552
    Lassa fever, suspected - Nigeria (Edo): RFI 20010315.0524
    2000
    ----
    Lassa fever - Germany ex Nigeria (03) 20000424.0609
    Lassa fever - Germany ex Nigeria (02) 20000405.0497
    Lassa fever - Germany ex Nigeria 20000404.0495]
    -

    ------
    ....................mpp/cp/ejp/mpp
    </pre>

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