African Mystery Disease

[Dracula Girl]

http://allafrica.com/stories/200606020973.html

Namibia: Strange Disease Claims 3 Lives

New Era (Windhoek)
June 2, 2006
Posted to the web June 2, 2006
Wezi Tjaronda
Windhoek

Teams from the Ministry of Health and Social Services are still investigating what is suspected to be paralysis or weakness of the lower limbs, which has so far claimed three lives.

As far as New Era could establish yesterday, 28 people from Havana, Goreangab and surrounding informal settlements were hospitalised at the Katutura Hospital with the disease, whose symptoms are similar to those of poliomyelitis.

Acting Permanent Secretary Maggie Nghatanga told New Era yesterday the situation is critical but stable in the sense that no admissions were made yesterday.

Nghatanga could not say what was going on as the sickness is still under investigation by the laboratories and other professionals on the ground.

It is also believed that tests were carried out to determine whether contamination of water could have led to the sickness.

According to a hospital insider, the disease, whose symptoms are weakness of the lower limbs is contagious and the patients were kept in isolation in Ward 5A. "They feel weak and get paralysed afterwards," she said.

A local daily yesterday quoted the Superintendent of the Katutura Hospital as saying that the first patient was admitted on May 13 with paralysis and shortness of breath.

• Edited by a Moderator •

Moderator Notice

pleaser eview guidlines for re posting copy righted material Thanks.

***If you wish to take issue with this notice DO NOT do so in this thread.***
Contact the forum moderator or an administrator in Private Message or email instead. If you feel you must publically complain or whine, please take it to the Psychotherapy Room unless told otherwise.