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South Sudan: At least 15 soliders die of undiagnosed illness

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  • South Sudan: At least 15 soliders die of undiagnosed illness

    While hemorrhage is not mentioned, a hemorrhagic fever has to be high on the list of possible diagnoses here:

    Published Date: 2013-10-01 16:48:58
    Subject: PRO/EAFR> Undiagnosed illness - South Sudan: (Jonglei) fatal, RFI
    Archive Number: 20131001.355242

    UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS - SOUTH SUDAN: (JONGLEI ) FATAL, REQUEST FOR
    INFORMATION
    ************************************************** *************************
    A ProMED-mail post
    ProMED is the largest publicly-available surveillance system conducting global reporting of infectious diseases outbreaks. Subscribe today.

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    International Society for Infectious Diseases
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    Date: Mon 30 Sep 2013
    Source: Sudan Tribune [edited]



    An unknown disease is said to have killed at least 15 South Sudan
    People's Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers at Manybol, a military camp in
    Pibor County in Jonglei State. Speaking to the Sudan Tribune on Monday
    [30 Sep 2013], the Commissioner of Pibor County, Joshua Konyi Irer,
    described the disease as serious and fatal.

    The Commissioner who visited Manybol 5 days ago said 3 soldiers died on
    the day he was at the military camp. "The disease is serious. 3 of the
    soldiers died in front of me when I was there. One of them was a
    captain", Konyi told Sudan Tribune on phone from Pibor town. "The
    patients die after a short time,'' he added.

    The Commissioner expressed fears that the yet-to-be diagnosed disease
    could wipe out the entire SPLA unit in the area saying that 15 soldiers
    had died since the disease broke out in the 2nd week of September
    [2013]. He said those infected with the disease are unable to move and
    complain of headache and fever. No civilian in Manybol is yet to die
    from the disease but there are fears it could spread to the civilian
    population.

    Attempts by Sudan Tribune to get a comment from the SPLA Commanding
    Officers in Manybol and the SPLA Spokesperson in Juba were unsuccessful.

    Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) doctors made a visit to Manybol early this
    month [September 2013] to asses some of the patients suffering from the
    disease but MSF's communications officer in Juba, Judy Waguma, said it
    was not possible to ascertain the disease without a full medical
    examination.

    --
    Communicated by:
    ProMED-mail
    <promed@promedmail.org>

    [A strange disease has been reported in a military unit in Pibor County,
    Jonglei state, South Sudan, since the 2nd week of September 2013. The
    victims present with fever, headache, and failure to move (probably due
    to malaise or extreme fatigue). The report indicates that a total 15
    deaths have been reported in 2 weeks but is silent on the total number
    of people affected. For now, the civilian population appears to be
    spared but it will only be after a comprehensive outbreak investigation
    that we will be able to determine the definite cause and real extent of
    the outbreak. Any additional information on this outbreak will be
    appreciated. - Mod.JFW]

  • #2
    Re: South Sudan: At least 15 soliders die of undiagnosed illness

    This outbreak sounds very similiar to the outbreak reports here:



    which took place in almost exactly the same place almost exactly 4 years ago, and turned out to be an unfounded report.

    I do not believe this is an echo report from that incident.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: South Sudan: At least 15 soliders die of undiagnosed illness

      There is a media report that a doctor from Sudan died of coronavirus in Medina on September 5. I believe this person was never confirmed by the Saudi government:

      Saudi Arabia - Media report that a hospital doctor, 67, died September 5 of nCoV coronavirus in Medina

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: South Sudan: At least 15 soliders die of undiagnosed illness

        The initial ProMED post was from the Anglophone Africa section. The same original article has now been posted on the main ProMED site with the comment:



        [The news report above describes a rapidly fatal febrile illness among soldiers in a military camp during the past 2 weeks in Pibor County, South Sudan. We are not told of additional symptoms or signs, other than fever, headache, and inability to move. Febrile illnesses that could possibly occur in South Sudan and that have a relatively high case-fatality rate include typhoid fever, plague, yellow fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) (ProMED-mail posts Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Uganda (04): clarification 20130826.1903826), anthrax (http://www.who.int/hac/crises/sdn/si...august2011.pdf and http://www.radiomiraya.org/index.php...tate#gsc.tab=0) and meningococcal meningitis (ProMED-mail post Meningitis, meningococcal - South Sudan: (ML) fatal, sg A 20130504.1690719); but more clinical information is obviously necessary to complete a list of possible causes for this outbreak. (There has been a hepatitis E outbreak in South Sudan this year (2013), but fatalities due to hepatitis E mainly involve pregnant women.) Unfortunately, the 3 Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) clinics in Pibor County, said to be the only source of formal healthcare in Jonglei state, were looted and torched in December 2011 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pibor_County).

        Pibor is one of 11 counties in Jonglei State, which is one of the 10 states of South Sudan. Jonglei forms most of the eastern part of the country; it is a very poor state and its economy is dependent upon livestock and agriculture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonglei). - Mod.ML

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: South Sudan: At least 15 soliders die of undiagnosed illness



          Strange disease kills 15 SPLA soldiers in Pibor

          An unknown disease has killed around 15 SPLA soldiers in Pibor County, Jonglei, officials say.
          Authorities say the outbreak began during the second week of September, and killed soldiers on different occasions in Manyabol military camp.

          Pibor County Commissioner, Joshua Konyi told the press that the disease poses a major health threat to the entire SPLA unit in the area.

          Mr. Konyi said those affected by the disease complain of headache and high fever.

          The SPLA spokesperson, Colonel Philip Aguer confirmed the death toll to Eye Radio this morning.

          ?It needs the health people to go and make an assessment and investigation to see what that disease is,? said Col Aguer.

          Colonel Aguer said that the national ministry of health has been notified and medical and health officials will be sent to asses and identify the disease in Manyabol.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: South Sudan: At least 15 soliders die of undiagnosed illness

            There's a marked difference in the symptoms reported in some of these reports.



            Mysterious illness killing dozen soldiers being investigated: Aguer
            South Sudan >>>
            .(October 3, 2013) - The Spokesperson of the Sudan People?s Liberation Army (SPLA), Col Phillip Aguer said health authorities are investigating reports of a disease killing soldiers in Pibor, Jonglei State.

            There had been reports of a mysterious illness that allegedly affects the limbs and stomach. It is said to have claimed the lives of 15 soldiers.

            In an exclusive interview on Radio Miraya, Col Aguer said investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the illness.

            ?If a disease comes it will not differentiate between those who are in uniform and those that are not in uniform, but particularly the report that came was that there is a certain mysterious diseases in the area,? he said.

            ?Investigations are underway, it is being handled by the health authorities and we hope that in the next coming few days we will hear the results of that investigation.?

            [snip]

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: South Sudan: At least 15 soliders die of undiagnosed illness

              Hat-tip Ronan Kelly. There appears to be active violence in the area:



              [snip]

              Aid response ongoing in Jonglei?s Pibor County
              The humanitarian response continued to people affected by armed hostilities in Jonglei
              State?s Pibor County
              . In Gumuruk, partners reached nearly 3,000 families with household
              items, water and sanitation assistance. Education partners installed fi ve school tents to improve
              access to education for children in the area.
              Partners worked with local health authorities to ensure that affected people have access to
              basic healthcare in Pibor town. Health partners also installed tents in Dorein and Labrab from
              where they are providing healthcare services. In addition, drugs and other medical supplies
              were delivered in these areas to ensure continued availability of health services. Over 4,300
              patients were assisted over the week. Two school tents were also installed to cater for about
              150 children in Labrab.
              Following several advocacy engagements with authorities at state and national level, partners
              may resume registration and food distribution in Pibor town next week. Registration
              teams have already been deployed, ahead of the distribution in Pibor town. Partners will
              closely monitor the situation and address any possible protection concerns.
              Partners assess possibility to launch aid operation in Jonglei?s Manzuben area
              Aid agencies identifi ed an appropriate site to provide aid in Manzuben, following a recent
              assessment to identify a suitable location for launching aid operation to reach 25,000-30,000
              people assessed to be in need of assistance north of Pibor town.
              Partners reviewed three possible sites and have chosen one for the establishment of a humanitarian
              compound. In addition to its proximity to the surrounding villages, the selected
              site offers suffi cient space for an aid camp, storage facilities and helicopter landing. Modalities
              for a possible response are being assessed.

              Comment

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