Hemorrhagic fever outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - unfounded

Treyfish · Oct 7, 2009

Wednesday October 7, 2009

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A mysterious haemorrhagic disease suspected to be Ebola has killed at least 23 people and infected dozens more in Sudan's under-developed south, a southern Sudanese army official said on Wednesday.
The World Health Organisation says Ebola, one of the most virulent viral diseases known to mankind, was discovered in south Sudan and the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976. Some strains have a death rate of 25 to 90 percent.
Kuol Diem Kuol, spokesman for the south Sudan army (SPLA) said blood samples had been sent to laboratories for testing but that doctors suspected it was Ebola.
"So far from the SPLA there are 20 killed and three wives (of soldiers) also died," he told Reuters.
"There is a huge number of the population affected that we don't have the (exact) number of," he added.
A U.N. official in the south said they had attempted an assessment but needed more information from local government to be able to assess the situation.
Kuol said symptoms included vomiting blood and bleeding from the ears and nose, adding it was very widespread in the Western Bahr al-Ghazal state.
A 2004 outbreak of Ebola killed seven people in the south. Death rates in Sudan averaged around 50 percent of victims.
Health officials say there is still no known cure for the disease, which is spread through bodily fluids, including blood.
South Sudan, emerging from decades of civil war, has little health infrastructure and few medical staff.:tiphat:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.as...01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-429852-1&sec=Worldupdates#

alert · Oct 7, 2009

Suspected Ebola outbreak in Sudan - 23 dead, dozens more ill

Suspected Ebola outbreak in Sudan - 23 dead, dozens more ill

http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSMCD746944._CH_.2400

Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan-army
Wed Oct 7, 2009 9:23am EDT
Email | Print | Share| Reprints | Single Page[-] Text [+] Featured Broker sponsored link
KHARTOUM, Oct 7 (Reuters) - A mysterious haemorrhagic disease suspected to be Ebola has killed at least 23 people and infected dozens more in Sudan's under-developed south, a southern Sudanese army official said on Wednesday.

The World Health Organisation says Ebola, one of the most virulent viral diseases known to mankind, was discovered in south Sudan and the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976. Some strains have a death rate of 25 to 90 percent.

Kuol Diem Kuol, spokesman for the south Sudan army (SPLA) said blood samples had been sent to laboratories for testing but that doctors suspected it was Ebola.

"So far from the SPLA there are 20 killed and three wives (of soldiers) also died," he told Reuters.

"There is a huge number of the population affected that we don't have the (exact) number of," he added.

A U.N. official in the south said they had attempted an assessment but needed more information from local government to be able to assess the situation.

Kuol said symptoms included vomiting blood and bleeding from the ears and nose, adding it was very widespread in the Western Bahr al-Ghazal state.

A 2004 outbreak of Ebola killed seven people in the south. Death rates in Sudan averaged around 50 percent of victims.

Health officials say there is still no known cure for the disease, which is spread through bodily fluids, including blood.

South Sudan, emerging from decades of civil war, has little health infrastructure and few medical staff

alert · Oct 7, 2009

Re: Suspected Ebola outbreak in Sudan - 23 dead, dozens more ill

Re: Suspected Ebola outbreak in Sudan - 23 dead, dozens more ill

It goes without saying that someone should send this to ProMed.

There has not been (prior to this) any laboratory-confirmed cases of Ebola or Marburg in humans this year. We were almost overdue for one of these.

alert · Oct 7, 2009

Re: Suspected Ebola outbreak in Sudan - 23 dead, dozens more ill

Re: Suspected Ebola outbreak in Sudan - 23 dead, dozens more ill

http://www.sudanforum.net/showthread.php?p=616786

Death (20) of the elements of an unknown illness EP!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

مصرع (20) من عناصر الجيش الشعبي بمرض مجهول بولاية غرب الاستوائية جنوبي السودان Death (20) of the elements of an unknown illness with Army in West Equatoria, south Sudan

لقي (20) من عناصر الجيش الشعبي مصرعهم جراء الإصابة بمرض مجهول في مناطق تمساحا والفرقة وكتكت بولاية غرب بحر الغزال جنوبي السودان. Was (20) of the elements of the Popular Army were killed by an unidentified disease in the areas of crocodile and the band and Kutkut in West Bahr el Ghazal in southern Sudan.

وقالت السلطات الصحية إنها لم تتعرف بعد على المرض. Health authorities have said they have not yet identified the disease.

وقال وزير الصحة في الولاية اسحق الياس إبراهيم في تصريحات صحفية ان أعراض المرض تتمثل في النزيف عبر الأنف والتقيؤ ، وناشد اسحق حكومة الجنوب وبعثة الأمم المتحدة في السودان لتوفير الخدمات الطبية للمصابين. The Minister of Health in the state, Isaac Elias Ibrahim in a press statement that symptoms of the disease is bleeding through the nose, vomiting, and appealed to the Government of Yitzhak South and the United Nations Mission in Sudan to provide medical services to the injured.
__________________ __________________

Vibrant62 · Oct 7, 2009

Re: Suspected Ebola outbreak in Sudan - 23 dead, dozens more ill

Re: Suspected Ebola outbreak in Sudan - 23 dead, dozens more ill

This is not good. In the midst of violent unreastin the region, enforcing quarantine and contact tracing may be almost impossible in some locations.

alert · Oct 7, 2009

Re: Suspected Ebola outbreak in Sudan - 23 dead, dozens more ill

Re: Suspected Ebola outbreak in Sudan - 23 dead, dozens more ill

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122073

The above link describes a case with similar symptoms from Sudan that was medically evacuated to Uganda, tested negative for Ebola, and (apparently) recovered. This was about five weeks ago. It is not clear where in Sudan this case was, or what his infection was caused by.

Treyfish · Oct 7, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

The death of 20 members of the SPLA an unknown illness in Western Bahr el Ghazal

Wednesday, 07 October 2009

Died 20 members of the SPLA by an unidentified disease in the areas of crocodile and the band and Kutkut in West Bahr el Ghazal. Health authorities have said they have not yet identified the disease. The Minister of Health in the state, Isaac Elias Ibrahim told reporters that the symptoms of the disease is bleeding through the nose and vomiting. Isaac appealed to the Government of the South and the United Nations Mission in Sudan to provide medical services
:tiphat:http://alintibaha.sd/

alert · Oct 7, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Please merge this thread with this one:

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127566

as we seem to be keeping two threads on this by accident.

DONE - Niko

Treyfish · Oct 7, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

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virus kills 23 people in southern Sudan

وكالات

Agencies

10/7/2009 6:56:00 PM GMT

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فيروس إيبولا يقتل 23 شخصا في جنوب السودان

Ebola virus kills 23 people in southern Sudan <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com

ffice

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></o

>

قال مسؤول بجيش جنوب السودان، اليوم الأربعاء، إن مرضا نزفيا غامضا يعتقد انه ايبولا قتل 23 شخصا على الأقل وأصاب عشرات آخرين في جنوب السودان.

Military official said South Sudan, on Wednesday, mysterious hemorrhagic disease that is believed to be Ebola killed at least 23 people and wounded dozens of others in southern Sudan. <o

></o

>

وتقول منظمة الصحة العالمية إن ايبولا، وهو واحد من اكثر الامراض الفيروسية المعروفة للبشر فتكا، اكتشف في جنوب السودان وجمهورية الكونجو الديمقراطية في عام 1976.

According to World Health Organization Ebola, one of the most viral diseases known to humans deadly, was discovered in southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976.

وبعض سلالاته يتراوح معدل الوفيات عند مصابيها بين 25 و90 في المئة.

And some strains, mortality rate at Massabhe between 25 and 90 percent. <o

></o

>

وقال كول ديم كول المتحدث باسم الجيش الشعبي لتحرير السودان ان عينات دماء ارسلت الى مختبرات لفحصها ولكن الاطباء يشتبهون في انه ايبولا.

Diem said Cole Cole, spokesman for the Popular Army for the Liberation of Sudan, said the blood samples sent to laboratories for examination, but doctors suspected it was Ebola. <o

></o

>

وقال كول "حتى الآن لقي 20 من الجيش الشعبي لتحرير السودان حتفهم كما توفيت ثلاث من زوجات الجنود ايضا".

Kohl said "So far at least 20 of the Popular Army for the Liberation of Sudan killed and three people have died of the wives of the soldiers as well." <o

></o

>

وأضاف "هناك عدد كبير من السكان أصيبوا ونحن لانعرف عددهم على وجه التحديد".

"There is a large number of people injured and we do not know the number specifically." <o

></o

>

وقال مسؤول بالأمم المتحدة في الجنوب إنهم سعوا إلى إجراء تقييم ولكنهم بحاجة الى المزيد من المعلومات من الحكومة المحلية لكي يكونوا قادرين على تقييم الموقف.

The official said the United Nations in the south, they sought to assess, but they need more information from the local government to be able to assess the situation. <o

></o

>

وقال كول إن الاعراض تشمل القيء الدموي والنزيف من الاذنين والانف، وأضاف انه متفش على نطاق واسع في ولاية غرب بحر الغزال.

Kohl said the symptoms include vomiting blood and bleeding from the ears and nose, and added that he is rampant on a large scale in the state of Western Bahr el Ghazal. <o

></o

>

ويقول مسؤولون صحيون إنه لم يعرف حتى الأن علاج للمرض الذي ينتشر من خلال سوائل الجسم بما فيها الدم.

Health officials say it was not yet known cure for the disease which is spread through body fluids including blood.:tiphat:http://translate.google.com/transla...%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7&sl=en&tl=ar&start=10

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alert · Oct 7, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

http://eafr.promedmail.org/

Most Recent Alert
View printable version
Published Date
2009-10-07 13:14:27
Subject
PRO/EAFR> Viral hemorrhagic fever - Sudan: (West Bahr al-Ghazal),
Archive Number
20091007.202932
Full Text
VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - SUDAN: (WEST BAHR AL-GHAZAL), REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
***************************************
Date: 7 Oct 2009
Source: Reuters Health
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE5960IG20091007

Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan: army
-----------------------
A mysterious haemorrhagic disease suspected to be Ebola has killed at
least 23 people and infected dozens more in Sudan's under-developed
south, a southern Sudanese army official said on Wednesday [7 Oct 2009).

The World Health Organisation says Ebola, one of the most virulent
viral diseases known to mankind, was discovered in south Sudan and
the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976. Some strains
have a death rate of 25 to 90 percent.

Kuol Diem Kuol, spokesman for the south Sudan army (SPLA) said blood
samples had been sent to laboratories for testing but that doctors
suspected it was Ebola.

"So far from the SPLA there are 20 killed and 3 wives (of soldiers)
also died," he told Reuters.

"There is a huge number of the population affected that we don't have
the (exact) number of," he added.

A U.N. official in the south said they had attempted an assessment
but needed more information from local government to be able to
assess the situation.

Kuol said symptoms included vomiting blood and bleeding from the ears
and nose, adding it was very widespread in the Western Bahr al-Ghazal state.

A 2004 outbreak of Ebola killed 7 people in the south. Death rates in
Sudan averaged around 50 percent of victims.

Health officials say there is still no known cure for the disease,
which is spread through bodily fluids, including blood.

South Sudan, emerging from decades of civil war, has little health
infrastructure and few medical staff.

--
ProMED-EAFR

[According to the above newswire, there are reports of a probable
viral hemorrhagic fever occurring in South Sudan. While the newswire
mentions that ebolavirus infection is suspected, if one reviews prior
ProMED-mail postings, one sees that the Sudan has had prior outbreaks
of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by agents other than the
ebolavirus. In 2007 there was an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever, in
1999, 2003 and 2005 there were outbreaks of yellow fever, and in 2004
there was an outbreak of ebolavirus. In addition, while Marburgvirus
infections have not been confirmed in the Sudan, there have been
outbreaks in neighboring Uganda (2007) and the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (2003).

More information from knowledgeable sources in the region would be
greatly appreciated.

For a map of the Sudan see
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/txu-oclc-219400066-sudan_pol_2007.jpg.
For the HealthMap/ProMED interactive map of West Bahr al-Ghazal
State, see http://healthmap.org/r/00UR. - Mod.MPP]

[see also:
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (02): (Mbale) NOT 20090825.201424
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda: (Mbale) RFI 20090825.201420
Marburgvirus, Egyptian fruit bat - Uganda 20090802.201034]

For additional background postings on viral hemorrhagic fever in the
Sudan, the following can be found at the general ProMED-mail website
(http://www.promedmail.org).

2008
----
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Congo DR (02): (KS) 20081229.4093
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (09): (Bundibugyo) 20071209.3972
Rift Valley fever - Sudan: WHO 20080122.0272
2007
----
Rift Valley fever - Sudan (11): WHO 20071221.4108
Rift Valley fever - Sudan 20071103.3570
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda: (Bundibugyo), WHO 20071130.3869
Hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (04): (Bundibugyo), Ebola confirmed 20071130.3859
Hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (02): (Bundibugyo), Marburg NOT 20071116.3718
Rift Valley fever, bovine, ovine - Sudan: (West Nile), OIE 20071114.3694
Zaire ebolavirus, apes - Gabon/DR Congo: lineage variation 20071020.3423
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Congo DR (08) 20070926.3191
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Congo DR 20070910.2996
Marburg hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (05) 20070817.2697
Marburg hemorrhagic fever - Uganda 20070803.2514
Viral hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (Kamwenge): Marburg conf. 20070801.2490
Viral hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (Kamwenge): Marburg susp., RFI 20070801.2475
Rift Valley fever - Eastern Africa (18): Kenya, bovine 20070219.0624
2005
----
Yellow fever - Sudan (South Kordofan) (07) 20051223.3665
Yellow fever - Sudan (Kordofan) 20051121.3387
2004
----
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W. Equatoria) (09) 20040807.2180
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W Equatoria) 20040525.1404
Acute hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W Equatoria) (03): Ebola conf. 20040524.1387
Acute hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W Equatoria)(02) 20040521.1369
Acute hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W Equatoria): susp 20040518.1328
2003
----
Yellow fever - Sudan (south) (02) 20030527.1298
Yellow fever - Sudan (south) 20030523.1263
Undiagnosed disease - Sudan (south) (04) 20030517.1224
Undiagnosed disease - Sudan (south): RFI 20030509.1153
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Congo Rep: suspected 20020611.4469
Hemorrhagic fever, Marburg virus - Congo, DR (02) 19990507.0753
Undiagnosed deaths - Sudan (south) (04) 19990331.0513
Yellow fever, suspected - Sudan (south) (03) 19990322.0455
2002
----
Acute hemorrhagic fever syndrome - Sudan 20020307.3706
1999
----
Yellow fever, suspected - Sudan (south) (03) 19990322.0455
Yellow fever, suspected - Sudan (south) (02) 19990321.0450
Yellow fever, suspected - Sudan (south) 19990318.0420
Undiagnosed deaths - Sudan (south) (02) 19990318.0411
Undiagnosed deaths - Sudan (south) 19990303.0304]
..................................mpp/be/mpp

Treyfish · Oct 7, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

<TABLE style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>Ebola virus kills 23 in southern Sudan </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="97%"><TABLE style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="99%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=newsResource vAlign=top width=8></TD><TD class=newsResource vAlign=top width=340>

المصدر:

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javascript:init(); javascript:init();

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المرض أدى لمقتل أكثر من20 من جنود الجيش الشعبي لتحرير السودان (رويترز-أرشيف) قال مسؤول بجيش جنوب السودان اليوم إن مرضا نزفيا غامضا يعتقد أنه إيبولا قتل 23 شخصا على الأقل، وأصاب عشرات آخرين جنوب السودان.

Disease led to the deaths of more than 20 soldiers of the Popular Army for the Liberation of Sudan (Reuters Reuters) - The military official said South Sudan today is a mystery disease that is believed to be hemorrhagic Ebola killed at least 23 people and wounded dozens of others in southern Sudan.

وتقول منظمة الصحة العالمية إن إيبولا -وهو واحد من أكثر الأمراض الفيروسية المعروفة فتكا بالبشر- ...

The World Health Organization says that the Ebola - one of the most deadly viral diseases known to human beings - ...:tiphat: http://translate.google.com/transla...%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7&sl=en&tl=ar&start=20

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Treyfish · Oct 8, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Mysterious disease kills 20 SPLA soldiers

<TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left>Thursday 8 October 2009 03:30.
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=170></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
October 7, 2009 (KHARTOUM) ? Some 23 people among them 20 soldiers of southern Sudan army died of a unexplained disease suspected to be Ebola, said the Sudan people Liberation Army (SPLA).
<DL class="spip_document_3739 spip_documents spip_documents_right" style="FLOAT: right"><DT>

</DT><DT class=spip_doc_titre style="WIDTH: 277px">SPLA soldiers smoke cigarettes in a military barrack in Nabanga, near the Sudan-Congo border, Western Equatoria, April 12, 2008. (Reuters) </DT><DD class=spip_doc_descriptif style="WIDTH: 277px">SPLA soldiers smoke cigarettes in a military barrack in Nabanga, near the Sudan-Congo border, Western Equatoria, April 12, 2008. (Reuters) </DD></DL>Kuol Diem Kuol, SPLA spokesman said doctors suspect it to Ebola but they wait for the confirmation form medical laboratories where blood samples had been sent for testing.
Speaking to Reuters he admitted they do not know the exact number of the affected population.
The Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever. There are four recognized species within the ebolavirus genus, which in turn have number specific strains. The Zaire virus is the type species, which is also the first discovered and the most lethal.
Sudan Ebola virus is the second species of Ebola that emerged simultaneous with the Zaire virus. It was believed to have originated amongst cotton factory workers in Nzara, Sudan, with the first case reported as a worker exposed to a potential natural reservoir.
Scientists tested all animals and insects in response to this; however, none tested positive for the virus. The carrier is still unknown.
The most recent outbreak occurred in May 2004. 20 confirmed cases were reported in Yambio County, Sudan, with five deaths resulting. The average fatality rates for were 54% in 1976, 68% in 1979, and 53% in 2000 and 2001.
Kuol said the mysterious disease was very widespread in the Western Bahr al-Ghazal state.:tiphat:http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article32709

alert · Oct 8, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Click on the link in Treyfish's post to see the comments on the article. They are some of the most vicious, hate-filled, scared things I have ever seen, blaming the outbreak on various ethnicities, and accusing various people of deliberately creating the Ebola virus.

There is going to be a lot of anger and fear that authorities must deal with to control this outbreak.

Treyfish · Oct 8, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

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مصرع (20) من عناصر الجيش الشعبي بمرض مجهول بولاية غرب الاستوائية جنوبي السودان

Death (20) of the elements of an unknown illness with Army in West Equatoria, south Sudan

لقي (20) من عناصر الجيش الشعبي مصرعهم جراء الإصابة بمرض مجهول في مناطق تمساحا والفرقة وكتكت بولاية غرب بحر الغزال جنوبي السودان.

Was (20) of the elements of the Popular Army were killed by an unidentified disease in the areas of crocodile and the band and Kutkut in West Bahr el Ghazal in southern Sudan.

.

Health authorities have said they have not yet identified the disease.

The Minister of Health in the state, Isaac Elias Ibrahim in a press statement that symptoms of the disease is bleeding through the nose, vomiting, and appealed to the Government of Yitzhak South and the United Nations Mission in Sudan to provide medical services to the injured.

وعلي صعيد آخر قال وزير التربية والتعليم بولاية جونقلى جون ماكين كول في تصريح صحفي أن انعدام الأمن اثر سلباً على العملية التعليمية خاصة في الأجزاء الشمالية من الولاية مشيراًً إلى ان المعلمين ليسو بالكفاءة المطلوبة.

On the other hand, said Minister of Education, Jonglei State, John McCain, Cole told a news briefing that the lack of security has negatively impacted on the educational process, especially in the northern parts of the state, pointing out that teachers are not a required efficiency. :tiphat:http://translate.googleusercontent....le.com&usg=ALkJrhiXpozb6_QWv_WXYwQ-yVBHbZa7dg

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alert · Oct 8, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

And a ProMed post. Note that in addition to Ebola, possible agents for this outbreak include Marburg (although not quite geographically correct - reported from bordering countries, but not yet Sudan), yellow fever, and several other etiologies.

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,79539

Archive Number 20091008.3482
Published Date 08-OCT-2009
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Sudan: (WB) susp. RFI

EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - SUDAN: (WEST BAHR-AL-GHAZAL) SUSPECTED,
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
***************************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Wed 7 Oct 2009
Source: Reuters Africa [edited]
<http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE5960IG20091007>

A mysterious haemorrhagic disease suspected to be [Ebola haemorrhagic
fever] has killed at least 23 people and infected dozens more in
Sudan's under-developed south, a Southern Sudanese army official said
on Wednesday [7 Oct 2009).

The World Health Organisation says Ebola haemorrhagic fever, one of
the most virulent viral diseases known to mankind, was discovered in
South Sudan and the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo in
1976. Some strains [of ebolavirus] have a death rate of 25 to 90 percent.

Kuol Diem Kuol, spokesman for the South Sudan army (SPLA) said blood
samples had been sent to laboratories for testing but that doctors
suspected [the disease was Ebola haemorrhagic fever]. "So far there
have been 20 deaths in the SPLA and in addition 3 wives of soldiers
have died, he told Reuters. There is a huge number of the [general]
population affected also, but we don't have the (exact) number," he
added. A UN official in South Sudan said they had attempted an
assessment but needed more information from local government to be
able to evaluate the situation.

Kuol said symptoms included vomiting blood and bleeding from the ears
and nose, adding it was very widespread in the West Bahr-al-Ghazal state.

A 2004 outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever killed 7 people in the
south. Death rates in Sudan averaged around 50 percent of victims.

Health officials say there is still no known cure for the disease,
which is spread through bodily fluids, including blood.

South Sudan, emerging from decades of civil war, has little health
infrastructure and few medical staff.

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

[Viral hemorrhagic fevers can be caused by many different viruses,
including those classified in the families _Arenaviridae_,
_Bunyaviridae_, _Filoviridae_, and _Flaviviridae_. Laboratory
diagnosis is required to identify the particular agent involved. In
this outbreak an ebolavirus, a member of the family _Filoviridae_ is
suspected to be the cause of the outbreak on historical grounds
rather than on the basis of diagnostic data.

_Ebolavirus_ was first identified in a western equatorial province of
Sudan and in a nearby region of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of
the Congo) in 1976 after significant epidemics in Yambuku in northern
Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nzara in southern Sudan.
Between June and November 1976, _Ebolavirus_ infected 284 people in
Sudan, causing 151 deaths, and there was another outbreak in Sudan in
1979 with 33 cases, including 22 deaths. Overall, according to WHO,
about 1850 cases with over 1200 deaths have been documented since
ebolavirus was discovered. The exact origin, locations, and natural
reservoir of ebolaviruses remain unknown, but the Egyptian bat is now
thought to be a likely source (see ProMED-mail Ebola & Marburg
hemorrhagic fever, Egyptian fruit bat - W. Africa 20091006.3469).

The information in the Reuters report is insufficient to determine
whether the current outbreak in southern Sudan is due to ebolavirus
infection, or is a consequence of infection with another agent, or
due to another cause. Further information is awaited.

A map showing the location of the state of West Bahr-al-Ghazal can be
accessed at
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Bahr_el_Ghazal>.
The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Sudan can be accessed at
<http://healthmap.org/r/00UR>. - Mod.CP]

[see also:
2004
----
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W. Equatoria) (09) 20040807.2180
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W Equatoria) (08) 20040706.1810
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W. Equatoria) (07) 20040622.1668
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W. Equatoria) (06) 20040618.1626
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W. Equatoria) (05) 20040612.1581
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W. Equatoria) (04) 20040609.1547
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W Equatoria): (03) 20040602.1500
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W Equatoria): (02) 20040527.1435
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Sudan (W Equatoria) 20040525.1404]
...................................mpp/cp/mj/dk

Roehl_JC · Oct 8, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

This sure sounds sinister. Whether it's Ebola, Marburg, Rift Valley fever, or evolved HPAI H5N1, it's now apparent that it is in both troops and rural populations, so it won't be easy to contain and control this time. I pray we send some US AMRID or CDC hemmorhagic disease specialists over there and take our own samples and determine the causative agent(s) as soon as humanly possible. I remember there were reports of plague in Libya and Egypt just months ago, and a couple of doctors committed suicide, so perhaps there's something that has been lurking iand we just don't have enough cooperation from local govs to determine just how many of these pathogens are in the region these days.

alert · Oct 8, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

A few things to keep in mind geographically. Sudan is a HUGE country. The region where this is occurring borders Uganda, and DRC. It is about 1000 miles (and four months) from Tobruk, Libya where the "plague" cases were detected. While there have been several undiagnosed outbreaks in NE Africa (I would add the mess in Mogadishu, Somalia, the possible outbreak in Alexandria, the January/February person-to-person "anthrax" outbreak in Bushenyi, Uganda, as well as the single case exported to Mbale, Uganda to your list) over the past few months, competant labs did investigate (NAMRU in Egypt found common bacteria, not plague or VHF in its samples, and CDC investigated Somalia for over a month). Also, the symptoms don't quite match - the illnesses in Libya and Egypt mentioned bloody skin and septicemia, but not hemorrhaging out holes such as nose and ears. The illnesses in Somalia mentioned neither. There have also been noticible differences in the suspected CFR.

We actually have very little information on this outbreak in Sudan. We don't know when it started. We know there have been 20 dead soldiers, and three dead wives. Are any other soldiers or wives ill? Has anyone died in the villages? They say this is widespread in the villages, but fail to mention deaths there, which is slightly odd. Perhaps there is a compound outbreak. Also of note, is that while vomitting and bleeding have been reported as symptoms, fever has not (yet).

Samples have apparently been sent to laboratories. We await laboratory results, as well as more epidemiological data. Historically, it typically takes three days or longer to confirm or deny Ebola in these types of outbreaks.

Treyfish · Oct 9, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

<TABLE style="DIRECTION: ltr" width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Scientists to Investigate Reports of Ebola Outbreak in South Sudan </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>By Alisha Ryu
Nairobi
09 October 2009
</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=APIMAGE style="DIRECTION: ltr" width=210 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The government of South Sudan and international scientists say they are trying to reach a remote village in the under-developed Western Bahr al-Ghazal region to investigate reports of a possible Ebola outbreak. There are reports at least four people have died and several others are showing symptoms of some type of viral hemmorhagic fever.

According to the World Health Organization's Global Alert and Response Department in Geneva, the department began receiving reports of an outbreak of viral hemmorhagic fever in South Sudan late last month.

At the time, the State Ministry of Health said that six soldiers of the Sudan People's Liberation Army stationed around the village of Kitkit in Western Bahr al-Ghazal region were found bleeding from the nose and vomiting blood. Villagers said four other people had died from the mysterious illness.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for the Sudan People's Liberation Army told Reuters news agency that at least 20 soldiers and three of their wives in Bahr al-Ghazal had died of a disease suspected to be Ebola. The spokesman said he feared that a large number of the population may also be infected.

<TABLE class=APIMAGE style="DIRECTION: ltr" width=158 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=imagecaption>Electron micrograph of Ebola virus </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Global Alert and Response Department's leading Ebola scientist, Dr. Pierre Formenty, tells VOA that even though the symptoms may appear to be that of Ebola, scientists will not be able to determine which hemmorhagic virus is causing the disease until they can investigate suspected cases in Kitkit.

Dr. Formenty says there are several types of viruses that cause similar symptoms - high fever and bleeding from openings in the body. Some viruses cause relatively mild illnesses, while others such as Ebola and Marburg, often kill their host.

"From the information we have, and we really have limited information, we cannot rule out a long list of possible diseases," said Dr. formenty. "We really need to investigate in Kitkit. But the problem we have at this moment is that there has been a lot of rain in this area. The roads are very, very bad. And we need a helicopter to reach Kitkit and investigate all these rumors."

The last Ebola outbreak in southern Sudan occurred in 2004. The disease, one of the most feared in the world, killed seven people and infected 17 others before it was contained more than a month later.

The first Ebola outbreak occurred in 1976 in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or bodily fluids of infected people. The Zaire strain of Ebola is the most lethal with mortality rates of 90 percent or more. The Sudan strain of the Ebola virus causes death in 50 to 90 percent of all clinically ill cases.

Meanwhile, U.N. agencies and Sudan's Unity government in Khartoum are expected to begin vaccinating 8.5 million children against polio later this month. 40 cases of the debilitating disease were reported this year in South Sudan, triggering concerns that the virus could spread into neighboring countries.

Sudan was polio free until 2004, when an outbreak in the north spread worldwide. It was brought under control two years later, but not before it caused 1,200 new cases.
:tiphat:http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-09-voa45.cfm

alert · Oct 9, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

OK. We have more information. There appear to be at least 4 deaths in the village, and it is likely that the soldiers had contact with the villagers. The outbreak also dates back into last month, so the timing is more consistent for Ebola (or Marburg), and not really consistent with yellow fever, or a mass poisoning.

We also have a slightly more detailed symptomatic description; not only is vomitting a symptom, apparently vomitting blood is a symptom. Notably, flu-like symptoms and fever have not yet been reported.

I expect lab results ruling Ebola in or out very shortly (possibly within 24 hours).

Treyfish · Oct 10, 2009

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

Re: Suspected ebola outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - army

No cases of hemorrhagic fever in W.Bahr el-Ghazal, Health ministry says

Friday, 09 October 2009

The government of southern Sudan Ministry of Heath Undersecretary, Dr Majok Yak, said that there are no confirmed cases of hemorrhagic fever in Western Bahr el -Ghazal.

However, Yak said he was amazed by the media when it reported on the outbreak of the disease before confirming it from the Ministry of Health. Dr. Yak said medical experts are on the ground investigating the outbreak.

The Director General for preventive Medicine in the Ministry of Health, Dr Atem Nathan, said the cases were reported last month. [/font]
Meanwhile the world health organization (WHO) said there are enough supplies to deal with the situation if there is any confirmation of outbreak of the Hemorrhagic fever.
:tiphat:http://www.mirayafm.org/news/headlines/_200910098493/

Hemorrhagic fever outbreak kills 23 in south Sudan - unfounded

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