There is an investigation going on.
Health authorities are currently looking into the case of an Iowa resident who recently passed away from Lassa fever after traveling to West Africa. This virus, which shares similarities with Ebola, is seldom encountered in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In a health alert issued on Monday, the CDC stated, “The CDC and the Iowa Department of Health are investigating a suspected case of Lassa fever diagnosed today in an Iowa resident who returned from West Africa earlier this month.” The patient reportedly exhibited no symptoms during travel, which greatly minimizes the risk to other airline passengers. Following their return, the individual was admitted to the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center in isolation but tragically succumbed to the illness later that day. Preliminary testing by the Nebraska Laboratory Response Network indicated a presumptive positive result for Lassa fever, with confirmatory tests to follow.
If confirmed, this case would mark only the ninth instance of Lassa fever reported in travelers returning to the U.S. since 1969, according to the CDC. In a related announcement, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services acknowledged the death and mentioned ongoing efforts by the CDC to verify the diagnosis.
Iowa State Medical Director Dr. Robert Kruse expressed condolences to the affected family in a statement, emphasizing the low transmission risk within the state. “This is a difficult time for the family of this individual, and I want to express our deepest condolences,” he said. He also reassured Iowans that the department is actively monitoring the situation and adhering to public health protocols.
Lassa fever transmission typically does not occur through casual contact; it is primarily spread through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. The virus is mainly carried by rodents in West Africa, with transmission occurring when humans come into contact with rodent urine or feces. Although Lassa fever can be fatal, the World Health Organization indicates that the overall fatality rate is around 1%. Approximately 80% of those infected show no symptoms, while around 20% may develop severe illness, impacting multiple organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys.
Symptoms can vary from mild, including slight fever, fatigue, and headache, to severe cases, which may involve bleeding, breathing difficulties, chest, back, or abdominal pain, and vomiting. Early intervention is crucial, with Ribavirin, an antiviral medication, being the primary treatment recommended by the CDC. Dr. Kruse mentioned that his department, alongside the CDC and local public health partners, is working to identify individuals who may have had close contact with the patient.
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