An Iowa resident who returned to the USA from journey to West Africa died Monday of a uncommon hemorrhagic fever, well being officers stated.
The Iowa Division of Well being and Human Providers (HHS) stated the loss of life of a “middle-aged eastern Iowa resident” was confirmed from Lassa fever. The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) is working to substantiate the prognosis.
Lassa fever is a viral illness frequent in West Africa, however not often seen in the USA. In West Africa, the Lassa virus is carried by rodents and unfold to people by contact with the urine or droppings of contaminated rodents.
Lassa fever is present in nations together with Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria. In these nations, the virus causes a number of hundred thousand infections and about 5,000 deaths a yr, CDC stated.
There have been solely eight travel-associated circumstances of Lassa fever within the U.S. prior to now 55 years. Roughly 80 p.c of those who contract Lassa fever have delicate or no signs in any respect. In individuals with extreme sickness, signs can embody bleeding, vomiting, issue respiration and shock, in line with the CDC.
The virus isn’t unfold by informal contact similar to hugging, shaking palms or by the air, and sufferers should not believed to be infectious earlier than signs start. In keeping with CDC, the affected person was not sick whereas touring so the chance to fellow airline passengers is “extremely low.”
The virus may be transmitted from individual to individual in uncommon circumstances by direct contact with a sick individual’s blood or physique fluids, by mucous membranes, or by sexual contact.
Iowa HHS stated it’s working intently with the College of Iowa Well being Care, the place the person was receiving care, the CDC and native public well being companions to establish anybody who might have been in shut contact with the affected person, out of an abundance of warning, for monitoring.
“This is a difficult time for the family of this individual and I want to express our deepest condolences,” Robert Kruse, State Medical Director of the Iowa HHS stated in an announcement. “I want to assure Iowans that the risk of transmission is incredibly low in our state. We continue to investigate and monitor this situation and are implementing the necessary public health protocols.”
