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WHO says undiagnosed illness in Liberia initially appeared to be undetermined poisoning after 31 cases, 13 deaths - April 26, 2017+ Neisseria meningitidis type C?

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  • #16
    2 United Methodists among 10 mysterious deaths

    By Julu Swen
    April 27, 2017 | UMNS

    Two United Methodists are among several people who died recently in Greenville in Sinoe County after eating food at a funeral. The cause of deaths are still under investigation but the Liberian government has ruled out Ebola.

    The Rev. Snoh Myers, district superintendent of the United Methodist Sinoe District, said a third United Methodist remains in critical condition.

    Dr. Francis Karteh, a United Methodist and Liberia?s chief medical officer, said that as of April 27, 10 of the 18 people affected by the food had died.

    ?We are running several tests and applying several theories, but this is definitely not an Ebola outbreak,? Karteh said.

    Karteh said the incident was triggered by food the victims reportedly ate after the funeral. ?The Health Ministry and other health entities are deeply involved in this study and will announce the real cause of the Greenville deaths soon,? he emphasized.

    The one United Methodist still sick is at home because he is afraid to go to the hospital, said the Rev. Snoh Myers, district superintendent of the Sinoe District in the Liberia Episcopal Area.

    The three United Methodists are from the Nimely Nah United Methodist Church and the St. John United Methodist Church in Sinoe County, southern Liberia. Julietta Sims and Uriah Moore died. The third member affected is Abraham Moore.
    ...

    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
    -Nelson Mandela

    Comment


    • #17
      Reporting is inconsistent. Here's one that doesn't even mention the funeral of the 11-year-old, claiming the source of the outbreak is food from the pastor's funeral. It also contains the near-impossible statement that the bodies of the victims were rapidly decaying, something that has been reported in previous outbreaks of various illnesses, but seems unlikely to be true (ever).



      ​[snip]
      Liberian authorities said initial scientific investigations have ruled out Ebola as the cause of the deaths. Residents say the people died of suspected ?food poisoning? from food eaten at the funeral repast of a pastor (not named). The pastor?s death was attributed to high blood pressure.
      The Liberian National Police is also investigating the causes of the deaths.
      ?The corpse of the person who died today (yesterday) reportedly decayed within a short time,? a female resident told the Daily Observer via mobile phone last night.

      Comment


      • #18
        Mystery deaths in Liberia linked to funeral - WHO

        Fri Apr 28, 2017 11:49am GMT Print | Single Page [-] Text [+]
        By Stephanie Nebehay

        GENEVA, April 28 (Reuters) - Nine people have died and eight are sick in Liberia after attending the funeral of a religious leader, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday.
        ...
        "It seems all of these people were attending the funeral of a religious leader," WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told a briefing in Geneva.

        "They have taken samples from the dead bodies, and all the samples came back negative for Ebola. They will be looking of course for other haemorrhagic fevers and for bacteria, if there was any common exposure to water contamination or food contamination," she said.
        ...
        Hospital staff are wearing protective equipment and contacts of the sick are being traced in the community to see if they have fallen ill, Chaib added.
        ...

        "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
        -Nelson Mandela

        Comment


        • #19
          It appears some of those hospitalized have died:


          http://zeenews.india.com/world/11-de...-more-from-zee 11 dead of mystery illness in Liberia as Ebola virus is ruled out

          United Nations officials say at least 11 people have died from a mysterious illness in Liberia, and tests have been negative for the Ebola virus.
           PTI| Last Updated: Friday, April 28, 2017 - 21:21




          Monorovia: United Nations officials say at least 11 people have died from a mysterious illness in Liberia, and tests have been negative for the Ebola virus.
          The World Health Organization said today that authorities are looking into whether the people were sickened by something they ate or were exposed to a chemical or bacteria.
          Five others remain hospitalised in Sinoe County, about400 kilometres outside the capital, after complaining of abdominal pains. Two are critically ill.

          ​[snip]







          Comment


          • #20

            Death toll rises to 11 as Liberia's mysterious disease spreads

            Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 22:12:18|Editor: xuxin

            MONROVIA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a mysterious disease in Liberia's southeastern county of Sinoe has risen to 11, a senior health official of the west African country said on Friday.

            Twenty cases of the strange illness have occurred since it began to ravage the county's capital of Greenville last Tuesday, Liberia's chief medical officer Francis Kateh told reporters.

            Nine people were hospitalized following the spread of the disease in the country, he said, but as of Friday, only three were in critical conditions, three in stable condition and three others had been discharged.
            ...
            There have been speculations across Liberia that the symptoms of the illness were similar to that of Ebola, which ravaged the west African country in 2014.

            Kateh countered the claims, saying the initial tests performed on the blood specimens of the deceased at the Liberian Institute of Biomedical Research had disproved that the victims died from the Ebola virus, even though they showed similar symptoms like vomiting and stomach pain, among others.

            The official said more samples of blood specimens of the victims had been sent to the Center for Disease Control in the United States of America for testing.
            ...
            "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
            -Nelson Mandela

            Comment


            • #21
              Liberia to Send Blood Samples Abroad in Latest Disease Outbreak

              Dr. Francis Kateh, Chief Medical Officer, says the Health Ministry is considering sending blood samples broad for further testing.

              Monrovia ? Liberia does not have the capacity to diagnose the latest disease outbreak which has already killed at least 11 persons in Sinoe County.

              Lennart Dodoo | ldodoo@frontpageafricaonline.com
              ...
              According to reports, seven of the deaths were linked to the death of an 11-year-old who died on Sunday, April 23, 2017.

              She died after showing symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting and mental confusion.

              She was immediately taken to F.J. Grante Hospital where she reportedly died within one hour after she was admitted into the emergency room.

              She reportedly attended the funeral ceremony of a religious leader on Saturday, April 23, (sic - Saturday was April 22 - Ro) in Greenville.

              The religious leader is said to have died at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia, Liberia?s capital. He was diagnosed of high blood pressure.

              On Monday, April 24, another patient from Down Town Community who also attended the funeral of the religious leader presented symptoms of head ache, skin itching and body pain. He was admitted the same night at the F.J. Grant Hospital died by 2:00 A.M. Monday morning.

              Another lady from Red Hill community who also attended the same funeral presented symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. She died upon arrival at the Grant Hospital.
              ...
              Twitter: @RonanKelly13
              The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.

              Comment


              • #22
                What makes them think this case is the same illness? Are there any epidemiological links to the cases in Sinoe?



                ‘Strange Disease’ Hits Monrovia, Health Authorities Say 1 Pronounced Dead April 29, 2017


                The outbreak of what medical authorities considered as ‘Strange Disease’ in Greenville, southeastern Liberia, Sinoe County, has reportedly taken the lives of eleven person and several being placed on critical list has reportedly crept in the populated City of Monrovia with one been pronounced dead by health authorities in Monrovia on Friday evening, and several quarantined in an undisclosed location.
                According to health authorities in Monrovia those infected with the “strange” disease showed symptoms of severe stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and headaches, Liberia’s chief medical officer, Francis Kateh, said on national radio.

                ​[snip]

                Comment


                • #23
                  SITUATIONAL REPORT

                  Unexplained Cluster of Health Event: Sinoe County, 29 April 2017

                  New update

                  On Tuesday, 25th April 2017 at 10:30 GMT, Sinoe County Health Team (SCHT) notified the National Public Health institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) of a cluster of unexplained health event involving 14 cases with 8 deaths in Greenville Citye.

                  From the 25th to 27 th April, the number of cases increased to 20 with 11 deaths reported (Case fatality rate is 55%). Most of the cases presented with headache, diarrhea, vomiting and mental confusion.

                  Over the past 48 hours, no news cases were reported from Sinoe and Montserrado Counties.

                  SITUATIONAL REPORT 5 th Edition

                   As of the 29th April 2017, twenty (20) cases have been reported from eight (8) communities

                  o Nineteen (19) cases reported from Sinoe and one (1) from Montserrado Counties
                  o Eleven (11) deaths recorded (Sinoe -10, Montserrado- 1)
                  o Five (5) currently admitted in F.J. Grant hospital have stabilized.

                   One new case identified during active case search within the Down town community, Greenville, Sinoe County, who presented with similar symptoms recovered two days ago.

                   21 specimens collected so far: 7 oral swabs, 7 whole blood, 3 urine, 2 cardiac fluid, 1 rectal swab.
                  o 7 oral swabs, 6 whole blood and 2 cardiac fluid tested negative for EVD.
                  o Chemistry analysis of 3 urine specimens has yielded no common pattern and inconclusive.
                  o Laboratory tests to exclude cholera and shigellosis is on-going.
                  o Aliquots 11 specimens shipped to CDC-Atlanta for toxicological testing.

                   Fifty-two (52) contacts have been listed (age range of contacts: 6 ? 15 years (8), 23 ? 65 years (40) and 4 adults.

                  Thirty-two (32) are females while twenty (20) are males.

                  Situational Overview

                  Saturday, 29 April 2017, no new admission reported from Sinoe County.

                  Cumulatively, there are 20 cases and 11 deaths (10 deaths in Sinoe County and one (1) death in Montserrado County).

                  Five (5) patients being managed at the FJ Grante hospital have stabilized and none is critical.

                  All samples collected were confirmed negative of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The Ministry of Health with support of WHO is accelerating the process of deploying a pathologist to conduct autopsy.



                  Probable Risk Factors

                  The event is driven by possible predisposing risk factors such as:

                   Attending and participating in Funeral events ? Wake keeping, Funeral, Burial and Re-pass within the community of the deceased (Teah town).

                   The risk of consuming the same food or drink that is probably contaminated.

                   Environmental exposure
                  READ THE FULL REPORT
                  ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
                  Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

                  ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Greenville Calm But Confused over Strange Deaths
                    By Ishmael F. Menkor - May 1, 2017
                    ...
                    Rev. Robinson Dweh of Greenville told the Daily Observer that, ?Up to today, I don?t actually know what killed my wife; I am still confused about it.?

                    He said his wife had complained about her foot ?and pain in her body,? for which she was repeatedly taken to the hospital, where she was initially diagnosed with hypertension (pressure), and was treated and discharged on the same night.
                    Then, on Monday, April 24, Mrs. Dweh came down with a strong fever, vomiting and crying from pain in her foot and headache. Rev. Dweh said she was taken to the hospital at 11p.m., and again her pressure was high, until she met her demise on Tuesday, April 25.

                    ?My son also came down with a strong fever while we catered to his mother, but he survived. My wife did not tell me of eating anything anywhere as it has been speculated; all she could say was pain in her foot.

                    ?My wife?s body was not in a bad condition like the other bodies where their tongues and eyes came out of them, with some in very bad condition,? he added.

                    Some of the healthcare officers, who did not want to be named because they are not clothed with the authority to speak to the press, described the condition of some of the bodies as ?very terrible, decomposing, with swollen stomachs.?
                    ...
                    Local authorities on April 30 called a town-hall meeting to clear the air on what was happening in the county. Liberty Radio station manager David Dee Kpangbala quoted the County Health Officer as telling the residents that the victims died from food poisoning. He added that the government is investigating to establish the type of poison.
                    ...
                    Twitter: @RonanKelly13
                    The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Source: http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/01/health...y-illness-who/

                      Mystery illness claims 12 lives in Liberia
                      By Susan Scutti and Bijan Hosseini, CNN
                      Updated 12:07 PM ET, Mon May 1, 2017
                      Mystery illness claims 12 lives in Liberia
                      By Susan Scutti and Bijan Hosseini, CNN

                      Story highlights

                      21 people have become sick since attending a funeral in Sinoe County, Liberia
                      Symptoms include headache, diarrhea, vomiting and confusion...

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Outbreaks and other emergencies updates
                        The World Health Organization (WHO) is building a better future for people everywhere. The Organization aims to provide every child, woman and man with the best chance to lead a healthier, longer life.


                        Source: Week 17: 22 ? 28 April 2017


                        WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
                        AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
                        REGIONAL OFFICE FOR Africa
                        WHO Health Emergencies Programme
                        Week 17: 22 ? 28 April 2017
                        Data as reported by 17:00 28 April 2017

                        Excerpt:

                        Cluster of undiagnosed illness and deaths Liberia
                        Event description
                        20
                        Cases
                        11
                        Deaths
                        55.0%
                        CFR


                        On 25 April 2017, the Liberia Ministry of Health notified WHO of
                        a cluster of acute illness and sudden deaths due to an unknown
                        aetiology in Sinoe county located in the southern region. The event,
                        linked to a funeral function, started on 23 April 2017 when the index
                        case, an 11 year old girl from Teah town, Greenville district developed
                        an acute onset illness. She presented to FJ Grante hospital
                        with diarrhoea, vomiting and mental confusion; and died within one
                        hour of admission. The following day (24 April 2017), the second
                        case-patient, a 51 year old woman from Teah town, Greenville
                        developed sudden onset of vomiting, abdominal pain and confusion.
                        She was admitted to FJ Grante hospital on 25 April 2017 and
                        died the same day. On 25 April 2017 (the third day), a cluster of 13
                        case-patients from 5 communities in Greenville [Teah town - 6 cases,
                        Congo town ? 3 cases, Red hill - 2, Down town - 1, and Johnstone
                        street - 1] developed similar acute onset illness. Seven out of
                        the 13 case-patients died the same day on 25 April 2017.

                        Between 23 and 27 April 2017, 20 case-patients presenting with similar illness were line-listed, 11 of those died, giving a case fatality rate of 55%. Over 80% (9/11) of the deaths occurred within the first 3 days (between 23 and 25 April 2017). Forty-two percent of the cases manifested with headache, 37% had vomiting, 27% had confusion, and 26% had abdominal pain and body weakness. Ninety five percent (19/20) of the cases came from Sinoe county. The first case outside Sinoe county (but linked to the funeral) occurred on 27 April 2017 in Montserrado county. Ten of the deaths took place in Sinoe and one in Montserrado. By 28 April 2017, 5 case-patients were admitted in F.J. Grant hospital in stable clinical condition. Fifty two close contacts have been listed and are being followed up on a daily basis for signs and symptoms of the illness.

                        A total of 20 biological specimens were collected: 7 oral swabs, 7 whole blood, 3 urine, 2 cardiac fluid, and 1 rectal swab. Of these, the 7 oral swabs, 6 whole blood and 2 cardiac fluid tested negative for Ebola virus. One whole blood sample is still being tested for Ebola virus. Chemistry analysis on 3 urine specimens has not yielded any significant results. Further laboratory investigations for the pathogens including toxicological testing are ongoing. The first set of 11 samples have been shipped to Atlanta, United States. Another set of samples is being shipped to the WHO Reference Laboratory in South Africa.

                        Over 95% of the line-listed cases participated in at least one aspect of the funeral rites of the religious leader who reportedly died of a known cause. The aspects of the funeral activities include burial, ?repass? and ?wake keeping?.

                        Public health actions
                        ? The national and county epidemic preparedness and response committees have been reactivated to coordinate response to the event.
                        ? A multi-disciplinary national rapid response team has been deployed to Sinoe to conduct detailed outbreak investigation and support
                        lower level outbreak response.
                        ? Active case search has been initiated in the affected and surrounding communities. Outbreak case definition has been developed to
                        facilitate active case search among those who attended the funeral functions and others. Investigation and compilation of line list of all
                        cases including systematic identification of contacts are ongoing.
                        ? Case management of patients currently admitted at the F.J. Grante Hospital is ongoing
                        ? County level advocacy meetings and community engagement have been conducted. The county health team has also embarked on
                        mass public awareness.
                        ? Infection prevention and control interventions have been re-enforced including hand hygiene practices, water points testing and safe
                        burials.

                        Situation interpretation

                        An alarming and a rapidly evolving situation unfolded in Liberia, understandably so, coming in the aftermath of the Ebola virus disease outbreak.

                        While the dreaded Ebola virus disease has been ruled out in this event, there is still an urgent need to establish the ultimate aetiology of this cluster of acute illness and sudden deaths. The dramatic evolution of the event with very short course of illness and sudden death, and the clustering of the cases is indicative of a common source exposure to the pathogenic agent. All indications are pointing at the funeral functions of the religious leader. The likelihood of foods, drinks or water poisoning is high and the ongoing toxicology testing will be very critical to provide some answers. The overall risk of spread of the event is lowering with the sharp decline in the number of cases and deaths reported. No new cases and/or death have been reported since 28 April 2017.

                        The Ministry of Health has requested WHO and CDC to expedite the process of toxicological testing outside the country. WHO is currently supporting the deployment of an experienced pathologist to do autopsy on one dead body that is preserved.

                        The Government of Liberia and the Ministry of Health is being commended for the swift and effective response to this event, including the early detection and rapid deployment of response teams. The strong collaboration between WHO, CDC and the other partners in dealing with this event should set precedence for future response.
                        "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                        -Nelson Mandela

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Originally posted by Shiloh View Post
                          Source: http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/01/health...y-illness-who/

                          Mystery illness claims 12 lives in Liberia
                          By Susan Scutti and Bijan Hosseini, CNN
                          Updated 12:07 PM ET, Mon May 1, 2017
                          Mystery illness claims 12 lives in Liberia
                          By Susan Scutti and Bijan Hosseini, CNN

                          Story highlights

                          21 people have become sick since attending a funeral in Sinoe County, Liberia
                          Symptoms include headache, diarrhea, vomiting and confusion...
                          ​This article later says:

                          Several cases have tested positive for malaria and have been treated accordingly, Skinner said. He added that a CDC team is in Liberia and working closely with the government to provide additional support.

                          ​While malaria alone does not explain this outbreak, it might explain why such a wide range of symptoms have been reported; some of the patients apparently have both malaria and the unexplained illness. - alert

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            They weren't consistent from a timing point either, but Lassa and yellow fever have also both been ruled out:

                            Twelve people in Liberia have died since April 23, with an additional 21 people falling ill, including an unknown number of children.

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Mystery Liberia disease claims 12th victim

                              A mysterious disease has claimed its 12th victim in Liberia and authorities are searching for people who attended a funeral who might be infected.
                              Source: AAP
                              2 MAY 2017 - 1:38 PM UPDATED 6 HOURS AGO

                              Another person has died from a mysterious disease in Liberia, raising the death toll to 12, the health ministry says.

                              The latest victim was the fiancee of a man who had died after returning to the capital, Monrovia, from Greenville in the southeast, where he had attended a funeral.

                              ...

                              Out of nine other people who were infected, three have been discharged from hospital.
                              ...
                              A mysterious disease has claimed its 12th victim in Liberia and authorities are searching for people who attended a funeral who might be infected.


                              Did the fiancee attend the funeral? If not, is this a case of transmission? - Ro
                              Twitter: @RonanKelly13
                              The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                It Is Scaring! As Two Contacts Of Greenville Victims Confirmed Dead In Monrovia
                                May 1, 2017 Cholo Brooks Liberia 0

                                Liberia Health Minister Bernice Dahn
                                Health authorities have reported two deaths in Monrovia from the strange disease that hit Greenville in Sinoe County last week.

                                The Communication Director of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Sorbor George, told a local radio Monday that one of the dead was among 60 persons who went to Greenville, Sinoe County from Monrovia to attend a funeral where the victims of the strange disease are said to have contracted it.

                                According to George, the second victim to die from the disease in Monrovia is the fianc?e of the man who died from the disease following his return from Greenville.

                                He said the deaths of the two bring the toll from the disease to 12, and the total number of persons who have contracted the illness to 21.
                                ...
                                Malta is known for its luxury treats, casinos, beautiful beaches and is definitely a country that should be on your winter travel itinerary especially when thinking about European islands. Let’s see why.
                                Twitter: @RonanKelly13
                                The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.

                                Comment

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