The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New Jersey Department of Health confirmed on Sunday the death of a patient from Lassa fever. The virus, which presents with symptoms similar to Ebola, is common in West Africa and affects 100,000 to 300,000 people in the region every year. In that part of the world, it is the cause of 5,000 deaths annually.
Health officials say that while Lassa fever is contagious, the patient poses little risk to the U.S. general public. The CDC says federal and state health officials are working together to identify and monitor any individuals who may have come into direct contact with the patient at his time of illness. The virus has an incubation period of seven to 21 days.
The patient, who was not identified, had recently traveled from Liberia to Morocco before arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport on May 17. Health officials report the patient did not present with any viral symptoms, such as diarrhea, vomiting or bleeding before his departure from Liberia or during the flight.
According to the CDC, the patient sought medical help on May 18 at an undisclosed hospital in New Jersey, and reported symptoms of a sore throat, fever and fatigue. Hospital officials say the patient did not tell health care workers of his recent travel to West Africa and he was later sent home. On May 21, he returned to the hospital as his symptoms became more severe. The hospital transferred him to a high-containment treatment center, where he began supportive care for hemorrhagic fever. The CDC confirmed the patient had Lassa fever after an analysis of blood samples.
Though Lassa fever looks similar to Ebola, survival rates tend to be much higher. Without treatment or medical intervention the virus has a 1 percent fatality rate versus 70 percent for Ebola.
The rodent-borne virus is spread through contact with urine or droppings. Person-to-person transmission occurs in the same manner as Ebola: through bodily fluids, such as direct contact with an infected person's blood, urine or feces; through mucous membranes; or via sexual contact. As with Ebola, a person with Lassa fever is only contagious when he or she has symptoms of the illness. However, health officials say Lassa fever is less contagious than Ebola. According to the CDC, this is the sixth known case of Lassa fever in the U.S. since 1969. The last case occurred in Minnesota, in 2014.
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Jessica Firger is a staff writer at Newsweek, where she covers all things health. She previously worked as a health editor ... Read more
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