On the evening of Thursday, an area around a general practice on Laan van Broekpolder in Heemskerk was secured by health authorities due to the suspected presence of a contagious disease.

Reports indicate that a man entered the medical facility presenting symptoms that may be indicative of Lassa fever, a highly contagious virus endemic to parts of West Africa.

Emergency response teams, including local health officials, activated containment protocols to manage the situation effectively.

Lassa fever is transmitted primarily through contact with infected rodents and can lead to severe illness in humans, prompting health authorities to take immediate precautionary measures to prevent potential further transmission.

The area was evacuated and measures were put in place to assess and treat any individuals potentially exposed to the disease.

The regional health department is monitoring the situation closely and has stated that additional information would be provided as it becomes available.