Person dies of Lassa fever in eastern Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa (KWQC) – The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the death of a middle-aged eastern Iowa resident from Lassa fever, according to a news release.

The person had recently returned from a trip to West Africa, where authorities there believe the person contracted the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working to confirm the diagnosis of Lassa fever, the release said. Initial testing was conducted Monday at the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory.

“This is a difficult time for this individual’s family and I would like to extend our deepest condolences. I want to reassure Iowans that the risk of transmission in our state is incredibly low. We continue to investigate and monitor this situation and implement necessary public health protocols.”

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

According to the CDC, the very rare Lassa fever is transmitted through blood or body fluids, not air or human contact. It is carried by rodents in West Africa and is transmitted to humans who may come into contact with urine or feces from the infected rodents.

According to the CDC, there have been eight travel-related cases of Lassa fever in the United States in the past 55 years. About 80% of those who get Lassa fever have mild to no symptoms.

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