University of Iowa Health Care confirmed the diagnosis of a patient with Lassa fever in a statement on Monday evening.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also known as the CDC, Lassa fever is a severe viral illness most commonly found in West Africa.
The disease is spread by a rodent species known as the multimammate rat but can spread by eating or breathing in the virus. It can also spread through the bodily fluids of an infected person and cannot be spread through casual contact.
The CDC says about eight in 10 people have mild symptoms, such as slight fever, feeling tired and weak, and headache — these sorts of patients usually go undiagnosed. The disease can cause more serious symptoms, such as bleeding, difficulty breathing, vomiting, facial swelling, pain in the chest, back, and abdomen, and shock.
According to the UIHC statement, the Eastern Iowa patient had recently returned from Western Africa and was cared for in their Special Pathogen Unit, which is a contained unit designed to securely care for patients with similar infectious diseases.
Despite offering excellent, specialized care for the patient during their short stay, the patient died.
“The safety of our patients, visitors, and staff is our top priority, and we were prepared for this,” the statement read. “We have a world-class team of infectious disease experts and the state’s only Special Pathogen Unit.”
Several UI students expressed their opinions after receiving the statement in an email Monday night.
Third-year Kiara Nichols did not initially see the email but felt the community should have been made more aware from the beginning.
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“Even though this disease is not airborne, it can be transferred through bodily fluids, which is an easy and common way to get sick,” she said. “As a student, I interact with hundreds of people a day, not through bodily fluids, but there is still that major risk with being around that many people.”
Second-year Maggie Simms saw the email right away and immediately started doing research, expressing worry about the university’s proximity to the hospital and how quickly sickness can spread.
“I’m definitely washing my hands more,” Simms said. “On campus, especially at Iowa, students are everywhere, so sickness is generally rapid.”
Fourth-year Owain Weinert said he is not overly concerned as the disease seemed to have been intercepted by professionals early on.
“I don’t think a fluid, transmissible illness that’s been already intercepted by professionals, is going to get out,” Weinert said. “If it begins to be more prevalent in the community, then I will probably take further precautions, but I don’t think that’s likely.”
UIHC said in the statement they are following guidance from the CDC and working closely with organizations such as the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Biocontainment Unit on a coordinated response.