Lassa fever deaths reported in Midwestern state

A middle-aged Iowa resident has died of Lassa fever, according to an alert from the Iowa Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).

The person, whose name and age were not shared, had recently returned to the state after traveling to West Africa, the release said.

Initial testing of the patient was performed Monday at the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory on Monday, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to confirm the diagnosis, according to the Iowa HHS.

FAUCI SAYS WEST NILE VIRUS WAS A ‘SMOKING’ EXPERIENCE: ‘SCARED, I NEVER WANTED TO COME’

“This is a difficult time for this person’s family and I want to express our deepest condolences,” said Dr. Robert Kruse, state medical director for IOWA HHS, in the release.

“I want to assure Iowans that the risk of transmission is incredibly low in our state. We are continuing to investigate and monitor this situation and are implementing the necessary public health protocols.”

The patient received care at University of Iowa Health Care, which is working closely with Iowa HHS, CDC and other local public health partners to assist with contact tracing and surveillance, according to the release.

What is Lassa fever?

Lassa fever is a hemorrhagic viral infection spread by rats in West Africa, according to Edward Liu, MD, chief of infectious diseases at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

The viral disease is transmitted by a specific type of rat called the “multimamma rat,” or Mastomys natalensis (Mastomys), according to the CDC.

DEADLY MARBURG VIRUS OUTBREAK IN RWANDA HAS HEALTH OFFICIALS ON HIGH ALERT

“This is a very rare disease,” Liu told Fox News Digital.

“Public health will need to follow close contacts with the patient to ensure there are no subsequent cases of Lassa fever.”

People can get a fever from contact with infected rats or their saliva, urine or excrement, the same source said.

“Lassa fever can also be spread between people by close contact with bodily fluids,” Lui told Fox News Digital.

“Casual contact is not sufficient to transmit Lassa fever.”

“Lassa is usually a mild disease, but in severe cases it can cause uncontrolled bleeding and shock.”

The CDC confirmed that Lassa fever is not spread by hugging, shaking hands, or sitting near someone.

“People with Lassa fever are not contagious until after their symptoms begin,” the agency stated.

Below are some of the ways the virus can spread, as listed on the CDC website.

• Touching contaminated objects
• Eating food that has viruses
• Gets virus in open cuts or wounds
• Eating rodents
• Inhalation of air contaminated with urine or faeces, which may occur during cleaning or sweeping
• Not using proper personal protective equipment (PPE) or not sterilizing equipment properly in healthcare

Symptoms of infection

While around 80% of people only experience mild symptoms, in rare cases it can be fatal.

“Lassa is usually a mild disease, but in severe cases it can cause uncontrolled bleeding and shock,” Lui warned.

Those with mild illness may have a mild fever, fatigue, weakness and headache, according to the CDC.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

In some cases, the fever can cause bleeding, difficulty breathing, vomiting, swelling of the face, shock and pain in the chest, back and abdomen.

Symptoms typically begin within one to three weeks after a person is infected.

Hearing loss is a known effect of Lassa fever, with about 30% of people experiencing some degree of deafness, the CDC stated. In some cases, the hearing loss can be permanent.

Pregnant women have a high risk of miscarriage if they are infected.

Diagnosis and treatment

Anyone who has visited West Africa and experiences symptoms should seek medical attention.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“Diagnostic testing can be performed in a laboratory with a high level of biosafety and enhanced infection prevention and control measures,” the CDC noted.

The antiviral drug Ribavirin has been shown to be effective in treating the infection.

Supportive care—including rest, hydration, and treatment of symptoms—is also recommended.

Prevention of Lassa fever

The best way to prevent catching Lassa fever, according to the CDC, is to stay away from rats when visiting West Africa.

It is also recommended to store food in rat-proof containers, trap rats in and around homes and avoid eating rats.

For more health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

Healthcare workers should wear protective clothing, sterilize equipment and follow other infection control protocols when caring for infected patients, the agency added.