A 38 year old man died of Lassa fever in Trenton, New Jersey on August 28, 2004, after returning from travel to West Africa. No fever or other evidence of infection has been reported among individuals who may have had contact with the patient.

 

The Lassa fever incubation period has passed for family members, staff at Capital Health System-Mercer, lab workers, and air and train passengers who may have had contact with the patient between August 24, 2004 (the day he arrived back in the U.S.) and August 28, 2004.

 

As a precautionary measure, the patient’s children did not attend school until after September 18, 2004 when the incubation period and risk of disease had passed.

 

Please visit the following link at the CDC to review a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that is being published at 1 p.m. today summarizing the incident in greater detail: www.cdc.gov\mmwr

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