Iowa resident dies from Lassa fever after traveling to West Africa

DES MOINES, Iowa — An eastern Iowa resident is dead from Lassa fever according to theIowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

It is believed the middle-aged person contracted the virus from recent travel to West Africa.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to confirm the diagnosis of Lassa fever. Initial testing was done at the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory on Monday.

“This is a difficult time for the family of this individual and I want to express our deepest condolences,” said Dr. Robert Kruse, State Medical Director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. “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.”

Iowa HHS is working closely with the University of Iowa Health Care, where the individual was receiving care, the CDC and local public health partners to identify anyone who may have been in close contact with the patient, out of an abundance of caution, for monitoring.

Lassa fever is not spread through casual human contact like hugging, shaking hands or sitting near someone or through the air.

Though very rare, the virus can be transmitted from human to human contact through blood or bodily fluids.

Lassa fever is carried by rodents in West Africa and is transmitted to humans who may come in contact with urine or feces of the infected rodents.

There have been eight travel-associated cases of Lassa fever in the U.S. in the past 55 years.

Approximately, 80% of those that contract Lassa fever have mild or no symptoms at all.