Journal article
Response to a Case of Travel-Associated Lassa Fever - Iowa, October-November 2024
MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, Vol.74(11), pp.194-196
04/03/2025
DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7411a3
PMCID: PMC11970722
PMID: 40179054
Abstract
Summary
What is already known about this topic?
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) endemic to western Africa. Before 2024, eight travel-associated cases had been identified in the United States.
What is added by this report?
A fatal Lassa fever case in a patient returning from Liberia, the first U.S. case diagnosed in eight years and the ninth U.S. travel-associated case since 1969, was identified in Iowa in late 2024. Investigation identified 180 contacts. Lassa fever virus testing was performed for five symptomatic contacts; all laboratory results were negative.
What are the implications for public health practice?
The coordinated public health response to this case underscores the importance of eliciting a travel history from febrile patients, effective VHF planning within public health departments and medical communities, and the importance of rapid local testing capabilities.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Response to a Case of Travel-Associated Lassa Fever - Iowa, October-November 2024
- Creators
- Diana L. Von Stein - Iowa Dept Hlth & Human Serv, Div Publ Hlth, Des Moines, IA 50319 USAAlexandra Barger - CDC, Natl Inst Occupat Safety & Hlth, Atlanta, GA USAAndrew Hennenfent - Iowa Dept Hlth & Human Serv, Div Publ Hlth, Des Moines, IA 50319 USARobert Ramaekers - Iowa Dept Hlth & Human Serv, Div Publ Hlth, Des Moines, IA 50319 USAAmanda Mandi - Iowa Dept Hlth & Human Serv, Div Publ Hlth, Des Moines, IA 50319 USAKaren Brust - University of IowaJonathan Simmons - University of IowaNicholas Mohr - Univ Iowa Healthcare, Iowa City, IA USALisa Veach - University of Iowa, Internal MedicineSudhir Kumar - University of Iowa, Internal MedicineAneesa Afroze - MercyOne Hlth, Des Moines, IA USAEmily McCutchen - Nebraska Publ Hlth Lab, Omaha, NE USAAmanda Bartling - Nebraska Publ Hlth Lab, Omaha, NE USAMichael Pentella - University of Iowa, EpidemiologyMegan Nelson - Univ Iowa, State Hyg Lab, Coralville, IA USAJennifer Craft - Trinity Muscatine Publ Hlth, Muscatine, IA USARikki Hetzler - Trinity Muscatine Publ Hlth, Muscatine, IA USAAmy Thoreson - Scott Cty Hlth Dept, Davenport, IA USAAlicia Coppedge - Scott Cty Hlth Dept, Davenport, IA USASam Jarvis - Johnson Cty Publ Hlth, Iowa City, IA USAJennifer Miller - Johnson Cty Publ Hlth, Iowa City, IA USAAlison M. TodresJessica L. WicklineSheena TarrantLeanna SayyadInna Krapiunaya - CDC, Natl Inst Occupat Safety & Hlth, Atlanta, GA USAAmy Schuh - CDC, Natl Inst Occupat Safety & Hlth, Atlanta, GA USAAmy Whitesell - CDC, Natl Inst Occupat Safety & Hlth, Atlanta, GA USAGerard C. Kuotu - CDC, Natl Inst Occupat Safety & Hlth, Atlanta, GA USAKiara McNamara - CDC, Natl Inst Occupat Safety & Hlth, Atlanta, GA USANancy Cornish - CDC, Natl Inst Occupat Safety & Hlth, Atlanta, GA USAShelly Schwedhelm - Univ Nebraska Med Ctr, Omaha, NE USAAngela Vasa - Univ Nebraska Med Ctr, Omaha, NE USAAngela Hewlett - Univ Nebraska Med Ctr, Omaha, NE USAShantyl Galloway - Iowa Dept Hlth & Human Serv, Div Publ Hlth, Des Moines, IA 50319 USAAaron D. Kofman - CDC, Natl Inst Occupat Safety & Hlth, Atlanta, GA USAKatrin S. Sadigh - CDC, Natl Inst Occupat Safety & Hlth, Atlanta, GA USARobert Kruse - Iowa Dept Hlth & Human Serv, Div Publ Hlth, Des Moines, IA 50319 USABarbara Knust - CDC, Natl Inst Occupat Safety & Hlth, Atlanta, GA USAMatthew Donahue - Iowa Dept Hlth & Human Serv, Div Publ Hlth, Des Moines, IA 50319 USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, Vol.74(11), pp.194-196
- DOI
- 10.15585/mmwr.mm7411a3
- PMID
- 40179054
- PMCID
- PMC11970722
- NLM abbreviation
- MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
- ISSN
- 0149-2195
- eISSN
- 1545-861X
- Publisher
- Centers Disease Control & Prevention
- Number of pages
- 3
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/03/2025
- Academic Unit
- Central Control Hygienic Laboratory; Epidemiology; Emergency Medicine; Biology; Anesthesia; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984815908002771
Metrics
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