New virus in Zambia, SA
Oct. 14th, 2008 11:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nairiporterDisease which killed 3 in SA, Zambia caused by virus: WHO
http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/A102674268A1702D652574E200287EFD?OpenDocument
After death of three persons due to a mysterious disease in Zambia and South Africa in one month, the WHO has said the illness was caused by a virus from the family that includes virus responsible for Lassa fever, as it confirms the report of the fourth case of similar ailment.
Preliminary tests indicated that the mystery disease was caused by a virus from the family that includes Lassa fever, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said.
Analysis is being continued at laboratories in South Africa and the United States to learn more about the virus, believed to be from the Arenaviridae family, WHO said yesterday.
Investigations began after an office employee at a safari tour company in Zambia died on September 14 in a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, two days after undergoing a medical evacuation from Zambia.
A paramedic who cared for that patient was later admitted to hospital in Johannesburg and died on October 2, and a nurse who was also involved in the care of the first patient died on October 5.
The three experienced fever, headaches, diarrhoea and myalgia that developed into rash and hepatic dysfunction followed by rapid deterioration and death, WHO reported.
It said that a fourth case has now been confirmed with a nurse who had close contact with one of the earlier cases becoming ill and being admitted to hospital in South Africa.
http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/A102674268A1702D652574E200287EFD?OpenDocument
After death of three persons due to a mysterious disease in Zambia and South Africa in one month, the WHO has said the illness was caused by a virus from the family that includes virus responsible for Lassa fever, as it confirms the report of the fourth case of similar ailment.
Preliminary tests indicated that the mystery disease was caused by a virus from the family that includes Lassa fever, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said.
Analysis is being continued at laboratories in South Africa and the United States to learn more about the virus, believed to be from the Arenaviridae family, WHO said yesterday.
Investigations began after an office employee at a safari tour company in Zambia died on September 14 in a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, two days after undergoing a medical evacuation from Zambia.
A paramedic who cared for that patient was later admitted to hospital in Johannesburg and died on October 2, and a nurse who was also involved in the care of the first patient died on October 5.
The three experienced fever, headaches, diarrhoea and myalgia that developed into rash and hepatic dysfunction followed by rapid deterioration and death, WHO reported.
It said that a fourth case has now been confirmed with a nurse who had close contact with one of the earlier cases becoming ill and being admitted to hospital in South Africa.
Diarrhea throughout the developing world is a terrible killer
Date: 2008-10-16 04:28 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-10-20 01:10 pm (UTC)