PRESS RELEASE: In response to a Lassa fever death in Iowa City, NETEC urges health care facilities to be prepared to respond and to support health care staff from a high-consequence infectious disease
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PRESS RELEASE
In response to a Lassa fever death in Iowa City, NETEC urges health care facilities to be prepared to respond and to support health care staff from a high-consequence infectious disease
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2024
On October 28, 2024, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed the death of a Iowa resident from Lassa fever. It was reported that this individual had recently returned from travel to West Africa. Public health authorities are undertaking further investigation into this case.
In light of this recent news, the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) is urging health care systems to be prepared and to contact NETEC to receive expert guidance on how to prepare to respond and how to support health care staff in the event of a Lassa fever or other high-consequence infectious disease (HCID) incident. NETEC experts are available to provide free consultations and technical support services through NETEC’s online service request portal.
“This is the heart of NETEC’s mission, to prepare health care systems across the U.S. on how to respond to special pathogen events,” said Aneesh Mehta, MD, NETEC Co-Principal Investigator at Emory University. “Our message to health care systems is that high-consequence infectious diseases, such as Lassa fever, are a reality and they can impact our community at any given time. Be prepared before you encounter a patient suspected of being infected with a special pathogen. NETEC is here to help and support you.”
“Special pathogens or high-consequence infectious diseases are capable of producing severe disease and require enhanced precautions to prevent transmission in health care environments,” explained John Lowe, PhD, NETEC Co-Principal Investigator at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “NETEC’s diverse team of special pathogen experts has developed protocols, resources, training tools, and more, all focused on being ready to respond to special pathogens.”
In addition, NETEC released a package of Lassa fever resources on its free repository library. Part of the package includes:
- A Clinicians Reference Guide to Lassa Virus
- Transmission Interrupted podcast episode – Lassa Fever: a Summary for Clinicians
- Lassa Fever: Testing and Treatments
- Preventing Lassa Virus Infections in Health Care Settings
- Lassa Fever: Biocontainment and PPE for Patient Care
- Lassa Fever: What You Need to Know as Outbreaks Continue
“Hospitals, ambulatory care centers, urgent care centers, emergency management systems – all health care systems are well-served to be ready and trained to respond to patients with special pathogens or HCIDs,” added Vikramjit Mukherjee, MD, NETEC Co-Principal Investigator at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “NETEC has been focused on driving best practices, closing knowledge gaps, and developing innovative resources related primarily to special pathogens. If you are part of a health care team and system and are not clear on whether you are prepared for Lassa fever or Marburg or another special pathogen, contact NETEC to get on the path for preparedness.”
For more about Lassa fever or to request technical assistance, visit NETEC.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Veronica Lavarro, Communications Director
Email: communications@netec.org / lavarrom@nychhc.org
ABOUT NETEC
NETEC’s mission is to set the gold standard for special pathogen preparedness and response across health systems in the U.S. with the goals of driving best practices, closing knowledge gaps, and developing innovative resources.
NETEC leverages the unique expertise, resources, and experience of regional partners and federal agencies to assess health care facility readiness, train providers, provide technical assistance and build a rapid research infrastructure to combat emerging special pathogens, building a sustainable infrastructure and culture of readiness for managing suspected and confirmed special pathogen incidents across the United States public health and health care delivery systems. Visit netec.org for more information.