Lassa Fever Case Confirmed in UK After Travel from Nigeria

Health officials assess public risk as very low but work to trace contacts of the infected individual.

A person infected with Lassa fever traveled from Nigeria to England in late February before returning to Nigeria, where the diagnosis was confirmed.
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic illness endemic to parts of West Africa, primarily transmitted through contact with rodent waste or bodily fluids of infected individuals.
Symptoms range from mild fever, aches, and headaches to severe cases involving bleeding, vomiting, and organ complications, with a hospital fatality rate of 15% for severe cases.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is identifying and contacting individuals who may have interacted with the infected person while they were in England.
Officials emphasize that the virus does not spread easily between humans, and the overall risk to the UK public remains very low.