Iowa resident dies of suspected West African virus that can cause permanent hearing loss

An Iowa resident is believed to person died from Lassa fever, a seldom seen microorganism successful nan US that causes 1 successful 3 cases to suffer imperishable proceeding nonaccomplishment and 95% of infected pregnant women to miscarry.

The patient, who hasn’t been publically identified, had precocious traveled to West Africa wherever nan microorganism originates and tin beryllium recovered successful nan region’s rats, wellness officials said.

The infected individual — who returned to nan US from West Africa earlier this period — had been hospitalized successful isolation astatine nan University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center earlier their death.

3D illustration of Lassa fever viruses. Dr_Microbe – stock.adobe.com

On Monday, preliminary tests conducted by nan Nebraska Laboratory Response Network revealed that nan Iowa resident was affirmative for Lassa fever — which would people only nan ninth known lawsuit of nan viral illness successful nan US since 1969, nan twelvemonth it was first documented successful Lassa, Nigeria.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is assisting section wellness officials pinch identifying adjacent contacts of nan diligent aft they began exhibiting symptoms. The diligent did not grounds immoderate symptoms while traveling, truthful chap travelers are not being screened arsenic their consequence is “extremely low,” CDC officials said.

Anyone identified arsenic coming successful adjacent interaction pinch nan deceased diligent will beryllium monitored by wellness officials for 21 days.

Lassa fever symptoms tin see fever, fatigue and headaches successful mild cases and bleeding, trouble breathing, vomiting, facial swelling, daze and symptom successful nan chest, backmost and abdomen successful much terrible cases, according to nan CDC.

The infected individual — who returned to nan US from West Africa earlier this period — had been hospitalized successful isolation astatine nan University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center earlier their death. CDC

Lassa fever tin origin imperishable proceeding nonaccomplishment and deafness among patients pinch some mild and terrible cases. About 1 successful 3 cases acquisition various levels of proceeding loss, according to nan CDC.

Meanwhile, pregnant women are astatine superior consequence if infected pinch 95% losing their gestation and nan fetus.

Those infected pinch Lassa fever usually statesman to acquisition symptoms wrong 1 to 3 weeks of contracting nan viral illness.

The unwellness cannot beryllium dispersed earlier nan infected is symptomatic aliases done casual interaction for illustration hugging aliases shaking hands.

Though nan microorganism is mostly dispersed by rodents — specifically West African multimammate rats and their feces and urine — it tin beryllium dispersed done interaction pinch nan assemblage fluids of an infected individual, according to nan CDC.

Investigators judge nan Iowa diligent had been successful interaction pinch nan West African rats, according to preliminary info.

West Africa sees astir 100,000 to 300,000 cases of Lassa fever each twelvemonth pinch an mean of 5,000 deaths.

With Post wires