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**alert** · August 4, 2009, 09:57 AM

Re: Zambia: Mysterious Disease Victims to be Moved to UTH

OK. This is bad. The location is right and neurological symptoms are consistent. This might be the Lujo arenavirus.

**alert** · August 4, 2009, 10:02 AM

Re: Zambia: Mysterious Disease Victims to be Moved to UTH

OR NOT. Whew. This illness has been going on in that family since the 1990s. This appears not to be an infectious disease, but a genetic condition, something like multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy.

http://ilusaka.com/?p=37

Mysterious disease ravages Kitwe family
July 18, 2009 By: public Category: News

A FAMILY in Kitwe is reeling from the damaging effects of a mysterious disease that has left seven members ailing, three of them bedridden.

The disease, which begins by affecting one’s vision and energy levels to an extent of making one stagger when walking, is said to have first struck some family members in the late 1990s and has continued to wreak havoc.

A Times team that visited House number 6764/5 in Chimwemwe Township yesterday was told that the family of 13 had lived with this disease for a long time and three of them had already died.

Both Kitwe District director of health, Chikafuna Banda and Kitwe District AIDS Task Force AIDS coordination adviser, Regina Katongo, who also visited the residence, expressed sadness at the situation.

Dr Banda said he had made arrangements with Kitwe Central Hospital where the patients would be taken for investigations.

He said there was need to admit the sick family members to the hospital and ensure that they were thoroughly examined.

Dr Banda suspects that the family may be suffering from a Nervous System Degenerative Disorder, which he said needed to be investigated.

And Ms Katongo appealed to organisations dealing with vulnerable people to come to the aid of the family.

She said the family was traumatised and needed spiritual, mental and material support.

“This family really needs care and support from everyone and this is why I am urging organisations dealing with the vulnerable to ensure they come together and support this family,” she said.

One of the patients, Steven Sakala, whose attack is said to be in the early stages, said the disease attacks them by disturbing one’s vision, followed by staggering before the health deteriorates.

“We do not feel any pain apart from just weakness. Everyone of us was just well until this disease started attacking us in the ’90s.

“The most surprising thing is that when we go to the hospital, nothing is detected. It is not malaria, tuberculosis and not even HIV/AIDS,” he said.

But Dr Banda said there was need to conduct thorough investigations on the sick family members and establish the cause of the disease.

Times

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**alert** · August 4, 2009, 10:21 AM

Re: Zambia: Mysterious Disease Victims to be Moved to UTH

It is also possible that this is the result of long-term exposure to some environmental toxin (lead? mercury?). Either way, if the illness has bee nreported for over 10 years within the family, and we don't have reports of spread outside the family, this is not likely an infectious disease.

**Jeremy** · August 4, 2009, 10:30 AM

Re: Zambia: Mysterious Disease Victims to be Moved to UTH

Originally posted by alert View Post

It is also possible that this is the result of long-term exposure to some environmental toxin (lead? mercury?). Either way, if the illness has bee nreported for over 10 years within the family, and we don't have reports of spread outside the family, this is not likely an infectious disease.

Agreed

**alert** · August 4, 2009, 10:32 AM

Re: Zambia: Mysterious Disease Victims to be Moved to UTH

I just did my required weekly freakout on that first article, though. I figured I'd better post that second article so that no one else has to freak out like I did.

**alert** · August 4, 2009, 10:39 AM

Re: Zambia: Mysterious Disease Victims to be Moved to UTH

The bold text leads to a genetic explanation, as opposed to chemical, as chemical would affect everyone at once, whereas this affects people when they reach a certain age.

Just a moment...

http://www.lusakatimes.com/?p=15402

Family of 7 with a strange nervous system disease
Saturday, July 18, 2009, 15:53
Health910 views
34 commentsSeven members of the same family suffering from a serious degenerating Nervous system ailment are appealing to well wishers for financial resources to enable them access medical treatment in Nigeria.

The seven aged between 30 and 74 are suffering from a serious degenerating Nervous system disease which has left them disabled and partially blind.

The disease has left the father, Greenwell Sakala, 74, of Chimwemwe and his six children, Elina, 50, Catherine, 40, William, 42, Judy, 38, Steven 34 and Isaac 29 all crippled, partially blind and malnourished.

Speaking in an Interview in KItwe yesterday at their house one of the patients, Steven Sakala, 34, said life has become unbearable because the family has no income because the members are crippled.

Steven said the family members are born normal but the disease attacks them between the age of twenty five and thirty leaving them bedridden.
He disclosed that they were thirteen in their family and that three have already died while seven including himself were all suffering from the rare health condition.

When the family attempted to seek medical attention from Kitwe Central Hospital and South Africa, health experts said blood samples tested showed no complication.

He said the patients experience no body pain except for weight loss, partial blindness and exhaustion.

Kitwe District Health Director Dr Chikafuna Banda said the seven were suffering from degenerating nervous system disease which can not be cured at the moment.

Dr Banda said that he was trying to arrange with the district leadership and Kitwe Central Hospital Executive Director Dr John Mwewa to admit the seven to Kitwe Central Hospital so that more examinations and study could be done on the disease.

Mr Sakala?s twelve-year-old grandson, Emmanuel Sakala, appealed to members of the public and business houses to help the family raise enough resources to seek spiritual healing in Nigeria.

Emmanuel, who has been helping to feed, cloth and bath the male sick members of the family said life is hard for them because most of the family members were always sick.

?I help to give the male sick members toilet pans, bathing and dressing them and cleaning the House, we need detergents and other sanitary materials to help us clean the rooms and beddings for the sick especially the four who are bedridden?. said Emmanuel.