South Sudan: At least 15 soliders die of undiagnosed illness

[alert]

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
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Mon 30 Sep 2013
Source: Sudan Tribune [edited]
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article48243


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]

 

[alert]

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

This outbreak sounds very similiar to the outbreak reports here:

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127563

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.

 

[sharon sanders]

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

 

[alert]

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:

http://www.promedmail.org/direct.php?id=20131003.1981265

[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/sitreps/sudan_eha_28august2011.pdf and http://www.radiomiraya.org/index.ph...ons-in-western-bahr-el-ghazal-state#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

 

[alert]

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

http://eyeradio.org/strange-disease-kills-15-spla-soldiers-pibor/

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.

 

[alert]

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.

http://www.radiomiraya.org/news-202...diers-being-investigated-aguer.html#gsc.tab=0

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]

 

[alert]

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

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

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefwe...umanitarian Bulletin 30 Sept - 6 Oct 2013.pdf

[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.