Mysterious Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak Stumps Disease Detectives
Source: NPR
May 31, 2016 4:17 PM ET
The last time, we heard about a "mysterious hemorrhagic fever" in a country, it was February 2014. The outbreak was in Guinea. And by the time doctors had pinpointed the culprit, Ebola was spiraling out of control in West Africa.
The situation in South Sudan today is a far cry from that in West Africa a few years ago. But it's still concerning, the World Health Organization said.
So far, there have been 51 cases including 10 deaths from an unknown disease in the northern part of South Sudan. The main symptoms of the disease are similar to those seen with Ebola: unexplained bleeding, fever, fatigue, headache and vomiting.
But the culprit definitely isn't Ebola.
Read more: http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/05/31/480150707/mysterious-hemorrhagic-fever-outbreak-stumps-disease-detectives
Link to WHO report from May 19, 2016:
Haemorrhagic fever syndrome South Sudan
As of 9 May, a total of 51 suspected cases, including 10 deaths, had been reported from the counties of Aweil North (45 cases, including 10 deaths) and Aweil West (6 cases). No health care workers had been reported among the cases. The majority (74.5%) of the suspected cases are below 20 years of age. The last recorded death dates back to 28 February.
The most frequent symptoms include unexplained bleeding, fever, fatigue, headache and vomiting. The symptoms do not seem to be severe and rapidly resolve following supportive treatment. Currently, there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of the disease.
LiberalArkie
(15,732 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,391 posts)At least by what they know at this point.
tonyt53
(5,737 posts)uppityperson
(115,681 posts)" The symptoms do not seem to be severe and rapidly resolve following supportive treatment."
herding cats
(19,569 posts)The 10 fatalities could have been in regions where they didn't have access to a medical facility, or they could have been afraid of being quarantined?
herding cats
(19,569 posts)Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)The more people are in contact with the wildlife the more chances there are for a virus to cross.
cannabis_flower
(3,769 posts)maybe - Lassa Fever
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lassa_fever