The Ebola-like virus is endemic in parts of West Africa and can be spread by rats.
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A person being treated for Lassa fever in the East of England, has died, a hospital trust has confirmed.
The patient died from the acute viral illness at a hospital run by the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the person died from a confirmed case of the animal-borne disease, which is endemic in parts of West Africa.
It said the risk to the public was “very low”.
The death comes as the third case of Lassa fever was identified in the UK in the last few days.
All three cases were within the same family and were linked to recent travel to West Africa, said Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at UKHSA.
The cases are the first of the disease to be confirmed in the UK in more than a decade.
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A spokesperson for the UKHSA said: “We are contacting the individuals who have had close contact with the cases prior to confirmation of their infection, to provide appropriate assessment, support and advice.”
A Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “We confirm the sad death of a patient at our trust, who had confirmed Lassa fever.
“We will continue to support the patient’s family and our staff and are working closely with colleagues from the UK Health Security Agency to undertake a robust contact tracing exercise.”
Before the three recent cases, eight cases of Lassa fever had been identified in the UK since 1980.
The recent cases are the first of the disease to be confirmed in the UK since 2009.
Dr Hopkins said: “Cases of Lassa fever are rare in the UK and it does not spread easily between people. The overall risk to the public is very low.”
What is Lassa fever?
- Lassa fever, like Ebola, can be spread through contact with the bodily fluids (blood, saliva, urine or semen) of infected people
- Humans can also get it by coming into contact with the urine or faeces of infected rodents that carry the disease
- The disease typically causes a fever and flu-like symptoms, but it can cause bleeding through the nose, mouth and other parts of the body
- Most people will make a full recovery but the illness can be fatal
- Described as a cousin of Ebola, the disease is endemic in a number of West African countries
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