Iowan died of West African disease

There have been eight travel-related cases of Lassa fever in the United States in 55 years

An eastern Iowa resident who was being treated at the University of Iowa has died of Lassa fever, a viral disease spread by rats found in West Africa, according to a Monday news release from Iowa Health and Human Services.

The death was announced Monday in a news release from the Iowa Department of Public Health that did not identify the person. According to HHS, the person — identified as middle-aged — had recently returned from a trip to West Africa, where doctors believe he contracted the virus.

Lassa fever can be fatal, but most infected people have mild or no symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms can range from headache and mild fever to severe bleeding, difficulty breathing and vomiting.

The virus is usually only spread when people come into contact with the urine or feces of infected multimmamate rats, which is common in West Africa. It can also be transmitted through contact with an infected person's bodily fluids, but not through casual contact such as hugging, shaking hands or sitting next to someone, the release said.

In the past 55 years, eight travel-related cases of Lassa fever have been reported in the United States, the statement said.

“Out of an abundance of caution,” Iowa HHS is working with the University of Iowa Health Care, the CDC and local public health partners to identify and monitor anyone who may have had contact with the deceased person.

Testing to determine the person's cause of death was conducted Monday at the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working to confirm the diagnosis, the release said.

“This is a difficult time for this person’s family and I would like to express our deepest condolences,” said Dr. Robert Kruse, state medical director for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. “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.”

Comments: (319) 398-8328; [email protected]