Iowa resident dies from suspected Lassa fever following a trip to West Africa.
TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Health officials are currently investigating the case of an Iowa resident who died from Lassa fever after recently traveling to West Africa.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this Ebola-like virus is seldom seen in the United States.
“The CDC and the Iowa Department of Health are looking into a suspected case of Lassa fever, diagnosed today in an Iowa resident who returned to the U.S. from West Africa earlier this month,” the CDC stated in a health alert released on Monday. “The patient was not showing any symptoms while traveling, so the risk to other airline passengers is very low. The individual was hospitalized in isolation at the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center and passed away earlier today. Preliminary testing by the Nebraska Laboratory Response Network lab indicated a presumptive positive result for Lassa fever, with confirmatory testing planned.”
If confirmed, this Iowa case would be only the ninth instance of Lassa fever reported in travelers returning to the U.S. since 1969, the CDC noted.
In a health notice published on Monday, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services acknowledged the death and mentioned that the CDC is working to verify the diagnosis.
“This is a challenging time for the family, and I extend our deepest condolences,” said Dr. Robert Kruse, Iowa’s State Medical Director. “I want to reassure Iowans that the risk of transmission in our state is extremely low. We are continuing to investigate and monitor the situation while implementing necessary public health protocols.”
Lassa fever is typically not spread between humans through casual contact. The virus is primarily transmitted through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids. In West Africa, it is carried by rodents, spreading to humans through contact with their urine or droppings.
Fatalities from Lassa fever are quite rare. The World Health Organization reports an overall fatality rate of around 1%.
About 80% of individuals infected with the Lassa virus do not exhibit symptoms, according to the WHO. However, 20% of infections can lead to severe disease, affecting multiple organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys.
Milder symptoms may include a slight fever, fatigue, or headaches. In severe cases, symptoms can escalate to bleeding, difficulty breathing, chest, back, and abdominal pain, and vomiting, according to the CDC.
Timely treatment is crucial: Ribavirin, a broad-spectrum antiviral also used for hepatitis C, is the primary medication for the disease, as noted by the CDC.
Dr. Kruse stated that his department, along with the CDC and local public health partners, is working to identify individuals who may have had close contact with the patient.
More information: The CDC provides additional details on Lassa fever.
SOURCES: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health alert, Oct. 28, 2024; Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, health alert, Oct. 28, 2024
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