Tue Oct 29 05:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Iowa Resident Dies from Lassa Fever, a Rare Virus Contracted in West Africa
**DES MOINES, IOWA** – A resident of eastern Iowa who recently traveled to West Africa has died from Lassa fever, state officials announced on Monday. The virus, which is in the same viral hemorrhagic fever category as Ebola, is rarely seen in the United States.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (IDPHHS) confirmed the death, but did not release the individual’s name or further details. Preliminary tests were presumptively positive for Lassa fever, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to confirm the diagnosis.
The individual was middle-aged and is believed to have contracted the virus in West Africa, where it is endemic. According to Dr. Robert Kruse, Iowa State Medical Director, the risk of transmission in the United States is “incredibly low.”
Lassa fever typically affects around 100,000 to 300,000 people in West Africa annually. Since 1969, only eight cases have been recorded in the US, all travel-related. While the virus has a 1% fatality rate, the current case marks the first confirmed death from Lassa fever in the US.
The virus is spread through contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects, primarily through exposure to the multimammate rat in West Africa. Symptoms can range from mild fever and fatigue to severe bleeding, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. The CDC notes that most people infected with Lassa virus experience no symptoms at all.
The patient was treated in isolation at the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center. IDPHHS is working with the CDC and local public health partners to investigate and monitor the situation, including identifying individuals who may have had close contact with the patient. As the patient was not exhibiting symptoms during travel, the risk to other airline passengers is considered extremely low.
The CDC recommends prompt treatment with ribavirin, an antiviral drug, for Lassa fever.
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