Rare Lassa Fever Death Suspected in Iowa

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed the death of a middle-aged eastern Iowa resident from Lassa fever. Lassa fever is a viral disease common in West Africa, but rarely seen in the United States. The individual had recently returned from travel to West Africa, where it is believed the person contracted the virus.

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

 “I want to assure Iowans that the risk of transmission is incredibly low in our state,” said Dr. Robert Kruse, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services medical director. “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. The patient also was not sick while traveling so the risk to fellow airline passengers is extremely low.

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 encounter urine or feces of the infected rodents. Early information suggests the Iowa patient may have had contact with rodents while in West Africa, the CDC reported. 

About 100,000 to 300,000 cases of Lassa fever, and 5,000 deaths related to Lassa fever, occur in West Africa each year.

If confirmed, the Iowa suspected case would be the ninth known occurrence since 1969 of Lassa fever in travelers returning to the U.S. from areas where Lassa fever is commonly found.