Time: 2024-10-29
A resident of eastern Iowa who recently travel to West Africa has tragically pass away after catching Lassa fever, a rare virus that falls under the Lapp class as Ebola. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services confirm the death on Monday, although the identity of the person remains undisclosed. preliminary trial bespeak a presumptive positive for the virus, with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention actively working to confirm the diagnosis.
While the hazard of transmission in the United States is deem incredibly low, Lassa fever remains a significant concern in West Africa, where an estimate 100,000 to 300,000 people become infect each year. The overall fatality rate for Lassa fever base at just 1%, with only eight know case report in the US since 1969, all of which were travel-associate incidents.
Lassa fever is typically spread through contact with bodily fluid of an infect person, rather than through casual interaction. The virus is commonly convey through the multimammate rat in West Africa, with infection happen from contact with pollute object or consumption of pollute food. symptom can scope from mild, such as a rebuff fever, fatigue, or concern, to severe case involve bleeding, trouble breathing, and vomiting.
prompt treatment is necessity for Lassa fever, with the primary treatment being Ribavirin, an antiviral medicine effective against RNA virus. health official are closely monitoring the situation in Iowa in collaboration with the CDC and local populace health spouse to identify person who may have have stopping_point contact with the patient. The patient, who was treat in isolation at the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center, did not exhibit symptom while travel, minimize the hazard to other airline passenger. It is crucial to raise awareness about the transmission and symptom of Lassa fever to prevent foster infection and guarantee timely treatment for those affected.