Iowa Reports First Fatal Case of Lassa Fever in Decades, CDC Monitoring Close Contacts

A resident of Iowa, who recently traveled to West Africa, has died from Lassa fever, a rare and severe viral disease primarily found in that region. The patient, who was in isolation at the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center, tested positive for Lassa fever shortly before their death, marking only the ninth known case of the disease in the U.S. since it was first documented in 1969. Health authorities believe the patient was likely exposed to the virus through contact with West African multimammate rats, a known carrier of the virus.

Lassa fever symptoms can range from mild, such as fever, fatigue, and headaches, to severe, including difficulty breathing, vomiting, shock, and pain in the chest and abdomen. Roughly 30% of infected individuals suffer some form of permanent hearing loss, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable, with a 95% chance of miscarriage if infected.

Following the diagnosis, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is assisting local officials to monitor those who had close contact with the patient, with a 21-day observation period in place. The CDC reassured that casual contact poses minimal risk, as transmission typically requires direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person.