Sunday10 November 2024
korr.in.ua

A man passed away from a terrifying illness that caused him to weep blood.

Doctors believe that the Iowa native died from Lassa fever, which he contracted in West Africa from rodents.
Мужчина скончался от ужасного заболевания, вызывающего кровавые слезы.

A resident of Iowa, USA, has died from a rare Lassa fever that causes bloody tears and headaches. This virus, which falls under the same category of viral hemorrhagic fevers as Ebola, is rarely encountered in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are currently investigating the case. Journalists are concerned about the potential onset of a new terrifying epidemic. This was reported by FOX13.

According to health officials, this viral disease is virtually non-existent in the USA.

The patient returned to the US from West Africa earlier this month. He did not exhibit any illness during his travels, so the risk to other airline passengers is considered "extremely low," experts stated.

The virus does not spread through casual contact, and patients are not considered contagious until symptoms appear.

The patient was hospitalized at the isolated medical facility of the University of Iowa Health Care. Testing conducted by a laboratory in Nebraska on October 28 indicated that the man is likely suffering from Lassa fever. If confirmed, this case in Iowa would mark the ninth known instance of Lassa fever since 1969 in travelers returning to the US from regions where the disease is prevalent. The Lassa fever virus is endemic to West Africa.

Symptoms of Lassa fever typically begin mildly and include fatigue and headaches. Some individuals may experience vomiting, difficulty breathing, facial swelling, and pain in the back, chest, or abdomen. Most people infected with the Lassa virus show no symptoms at all.

Lassa fever can be transmitted from person to person, but not through casual contact. The virus usually spreads only through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.

Those who were in close contact with the deceased Iowa resident will be monitored for 21 days.

State health officials and local authorities are working to determine how the patient, whose identity has not been disclosed, became infected. Preliminary information suggests that the patient had contact with rodents in West Africa. The virus is carried by rodents and spreads among humans through contact with the urine or feces of infected animals. In rare cases, it can be transmitted from person to person through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected individual, through mucous membranes, or sexually.

Every year, West Africa reports between 100,000 and 300,000 cases of Lassa fever and approximately 5,000 deaths. However, timely medical assistance and treatment usually help.

Recall that in 2022, a case of Lassa fever was reported in the UK. At that time, an entire family who traveled through West Africa became infected.