Lassa Fever, Not Seen in U.S. for 15 Years, Claims Life of New Jersey Man

TRENTON -- The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services reported today that a 38-year-old Mercer County man died on Aug. 28, 2004 from an acute viral disease called Lassa fever, a condition that is rare in the U.S., but endemic to West Africa.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the diagnosis of Lassa fever through laboratory tests today.

The man had traveled to Liberia, where he stayed for several months, before returning to the United States and New Jersey on Aug. 24. After arriving in New Jersey and spending several hours at his home, the man presented at the emergency department of Capital Health System at Mercer with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, headache, fever and myalgia.  He was admitted and died four days later.

There is no reason to believe this disease is terrorism-related, said DHSS Commissioner Clifton R. Lacy, MD. A man traveled from a part of the world where this disease is well known to occur. He brought the illness to New Jersey and unfortunately succumbed to it. 

The disease is not transmitted through casual contact. Our department is working closely with the CDC, Capital Health System, and local health officials to identify any individuals who may be at increased risk due to close contact with the patient, said Lacy. 

Lassa fever is an acute viral disease that is endemic in portions of West Africa.  The disease is animal borne and is transmitted to humans through contact with urine or droppings of infected rodents.  It can also be transmitted from person-to-person through blood or bodily fluid that penetrates the skin, through mucous membrane or through sexual contact.

The incubation period for Lassa fever is one to three weeks.

Ribavirin, an antiviral drug, has been shown to be an effective treatment along with supportive care.  

In West Africa, there are about 100, 000 to 300,000 cases of Lassa fever and with about 5,000 deaths annually. Overall, death is rare in patients who contract Lassa fever, with only 1 percent of all cases resulting in death. However, between 15 to 20 percent of patients hospitalized with Lassa fever die.

The last case of Lassa fever in New Jersey was approximately 20 years ago. The last case in the United States was in 1989. Both cases were travel-related.

The NJ Department of Health and Senior Services has set up a hotline to answer residents questions about Lassa fever.  For further information, residents may call the hotline at (866) 234-0964 or visit the DHSS website at www.state.nj.us/health.

Source: New Jersey Department of Health