Officials in the UK have reported the third-ever case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.
It's the first time a case of the illness has been confirmed in the UK since 2014.
A woman is being treated for the virus at the Royal Free Hospital in London and had recently travelled from Asia.
The virus, which is endemic in Central Asia, can be contracted if an individual is bitten by or comes into contact with the blood or tissues of an infected person or animal.
Thankfully, the disease does not spread easily from person to person so the overall public health risk remains low.
A case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever has been confirmed in England, following travel to Central Asia.
The overall risk to the public is very low. The virus is usually spread by tick bites in countries where the disease is endemic, it does not spread easily between people.— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) March 25, 2022
Symptoms include aches, vomiting, nausea, fever and bleeding underneath the skin with severe cases resulting in organ failure and even death.
Speaking to the BBC, Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at the UK Health Security Agency noted that robust infection control measures were being followed at the hospital that is caring for the patient.
"We are working to contact the individuals who have had close contact with the case prior to confirmation of their infection, to assess them as necessary and provide advice."
