Lassa fever death reported in midwestern state, contact tracing begins

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

The person, whose sanction and property were not shared, had precocious returned to nan authorities aft walking to West Africa, nan merchandise stated.

The first testing of nan diligent was performed connected Monday astatine nan Nebraska Public Health Laboratory connected Monday, and nan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is "working to corroborate nan diagnosis," per Iowa HHS.

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"This is simply a difficult clip for nan family of this individual and I want to definitive our deepest condolences," said Dr. Robert Kruse, authorities aesculapian head of IOWA HHS, successful nan release. 

Lassa fever is simply a hemorrhagic viral infection dispersed by rats successful West Africa. (iStock)

"I want to guarantee Iowans that nan consequence of transmission is incredibly debased successful our state. We proceed to analyse and show this business and are implementing nan basal public health protocols."

The diligent received attraction astatine nan University of Iowa Health Care, which is moving intimately pinch Iowa HHS, nan CDC and different section nationalist wellness partners to assistance pinch interaction tracing and monitoring, per nan release.

What is Lassa fever?

Lassa fever is simply a hemorrhagic viral infection dispersed by rats successful West Africa, according to Edward Liu, M.D., main of infectious diseases astatine Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

The viral unwellness is transmitted by a definite type of rat called nan "multimammate rat" aliases Mastomys natalensis (Mastomys), per nan CDC.

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"This is simply a very uncommon disease," Liu told Fox News Digital.  

"Public wellness will person to travel adjacent contacts of nan diligent to make judge location are nary consequent cases of Lassa fever."

"Diagnostic testing tin beryllium done successful a laboratory pinch a precocious level of biosafety and enhanced infection prevention and power precautions," nan CDC noted. (iStock)

People tin drawback nan fever done interaction pinch infected rats aliases their saliva, urine aliases droppings, nan aforesaid root stated. 

"Lassa fever tin besides dispersed betwixt group by adjacent interaction pinch bodily fluids," Lui told Fox News Digital. 

"Casual interaction is not capable to transmit Lassa fever."

"Lassa usually is simply a mild disease, but successful terrible cases it tin origin uncontrolled bleeding and shock."

The CDC confirmed that Lassa fever is not dispersed done hugging, shaking hands aliases sitting adjacent someone.

"People pinch Lassa fever are not contagious until aft their symptoms begin," nan agency stated.

Not utilizing due individual protective instrumentality (PPE) aliases not decently sterilizing instrumentality successful wellness attraction settings tin origin nan unwellness to spread. (iStock)

Below are immoderate of nan ways successful which nan virus tin spread, arsenic listed connected nan CDC’s website.

• Touching contaminated objects
• Eating nutrient that has nan virus
• Getting nan microorganism successful unfastened cuts aliases sores
• Eating rodents
• Breathing successful aerial that has infected urine aliases droppings, which tin hap erstwhile cleaning aliases sweeping
• Not utilizing due individual protective instrumentality (PPE) aliases not decently sterilizing instrumentality successful wellness attraction settings

Symptoms of infection

While astir 80% of group acquisition only mild symptoms, it tin beryllium fatal successful uncommon cases.

"Lassa is usually a mild disease, but successful terrible cases it tin origin uncontrolled bleeding and shock," Lui cautioned.

Those pinch mild unwellness whitethorn person a flimsy fever, fatigue, weakness and headache, according to nan CDC.

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In immoderate cases, nan fever tin origin bleeding, breathing difficulties, vomiting, facial swelling, shock, and symptom successful nan chest, backmost and abdomen.

Symptoms typically statesman wrong 1 to 3 weeks aft a personification is infected.

The antiviral supplier Ribavirin has been shown to beryllium effective successful treating nan infection, nan CDC stated. (iStock)

Hearing loss is simply a known effect of Lassa fever, pinch astir 30% of group experiencing immoderate level of deafness, nan CDC stated. In immoderate cases, nan proceeding nonaccomplishment tin beryllium permanent.

Pregnant women look a precocious consequence of miscarriage if they are infected.

Diagnosis and treatment

Anyone who has visited West Africa and is experiencing symptoms should activity aesculapian attention.

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"Diagnostic testing tin beryllium done successful a laboratory pinch a precocious level of biosafety and enhanced infection prevention and power precautions," nan CDC noted.

Supportive attraction — including rest, hydration and curen of symptoms — is recommended for those pinch Lassa fever. (iStock)

The antiviral drug Ribavirin has been shown to beryllium effective successful treating nan infection.

Supportive attraction — including rest, hydration and curen of symptoms — is besides recommended.

Preventing Lassa fever

The champion measurement to forestall catching Lassa fever, according to nan CDC, is to enactment distant from rats erstwhile visiting West Africa. 

It is besides recommended to support nutrient successful rat-proof containers, trap rats successful and astir homes, and debar eating rats.

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Health attraction personnel should deterioration protective clothing, sterilize instrumentality and travel different infection power protocols erstwhile caring for infected patients, nan agency added.