Lassa fever kills an Iowa resident. Here's what you should know about the rare virus and its symptoms.

A middle-aged Iowa resident who recently traveled to West Africa has died of Lassa fever, state health officials confirmed Monday.

“I want to reassure Iowans that the risk of transmission in our state is incredibly low,” said Dr. Robert Kruse, state medical director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, in a news release. “We continue to investigate and monitor this situation and implement necessary public health protocols.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local public health partners are working to identify anyone “who may have been in close contact with the patient out of an abundance of caution and for monitoring,” the release continued.

What is Lassa fever?

Lassa fever is a virus that occurs primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. It is spread by West African polymammal rats, which are currently the only species known to transmit the Lassa virus, health officials say.

The viral disease can emerge quickly after infection, with the incubation period ranging from two to 21 days, according to the World Health Organization.

In the last 55 years, only eight travel-related cases of Lassa fever have been reported in the United States. In 2015 A New Jersey man has died after the virus was diagnosed.

According to the CDC, about 100,000 to 300,000 cases of Lassa fever occur in West Africa each year, and about 5,000 people die from it.

How does Lassa fever spread?

People can become infected with Lassa fever through contact with infected rats or their saliva, urine or feces, which can occur through contaminated food or household items.

Infection can also be spread between people through contact with bodily fluids from an infected person. Transmission does not occur through casual contact such as hugging, shaking hands, or sitting next to someone.

“People with Lassa fever are not contagious until their symptoms appear,” the CDC states.

The University of Iowa Health System, where the resident was treated, said the patient was being cared for in its Special Pathogen Unit, a closed unit designed to safely treat infectious diseases, and assured the public that the hospital “remains a safe place.” to receive care.”

The CDC said the person “was not sick during the trip, so the risk to other airline passengers is extremely low.”

While no human-to-human transmission has been reported in the United States, the CDC is urging stricter isolation precautions for viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Lassa virus.

Symptoms of Lassa fever

While Lassa fever can be fatal, most people experience only mild symptoms, including a mild fever, fatigue and weakness, and headache. These general symptoms are similar to many other illnesses, and health officials say most people with mild cases are never diagnosed.

According to the WHO, around one in five infected people develops a severe course of the disease.

Some people may experience bleeding, vomiting, difficulty breathing, facial swelling, and pain in the back, chest, or stomach.

The overall mortality rate for the disease is about 1%, according to the WHO, “but can reach 15% or more in patients hospitalized with severe disease.”

Health officials say treatment options could include an antiviral drug called ribavirin, which is most effective when given early, as well as supportive therapies such as painkillers and hydration to relieve symptoms.

Alexander Tin contributed to this report.