Tanzania: Unknown diseases (Situation as of 14 November 2013) - WHO Africa region- Hepatitis E.

[sharon sanders]

hat tip Lisa Schnirring

Tanzania: Unknown diseases (Situation as of 14 November 2013)
EPR-Tanzania-unknown-diseases-14nov2013A total of 794 cases and 0 death were reported Kasulu District

Event description

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Tanzania has been investigating an unknown disease in Kasulu. A total of 794 cases with no deaths have been reported from 20 August to 23 October 2013. The cases are presenting mainly with fever, headache, vomiting and abdominal pains. Dengue fever tests conducted on some of the cases were negative. More tests are being done to ascertain the actual causative agent.

Actions taken

The Interventions initiated include: health education and use of LLN, improvement of environmental hygiene and sanitation, strengthening surveillance and laboratory analysis of samples.

Differentials being considered include dengue fever, yellow fever and Hepatitis A/E.

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Please see Tanzania: Meningitis Outbreak in Rukwa Region thread maintained by Shiloh

Rukwa is about 50 miles south of Kasulu.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Tanzania: Unknown diseases (Situation as of 14 November 2013) - WHO Africa region- Hepatitis E.

Source: http://vaccinenewsdaily.com/world_h...0-who-confirms-hepatitis-e-virus-in-tanzania/

WHO confirms hepatitis E virus in Tanzania
Published on December 13, 2013 by Paul Tinder

The World Health Organization recently confirmed that a previously reported and unknown illness in Tanzania?s Kigoma Region is the result of hepatitis E virus.

Fifteen out of the 46 samples tested at a lab in Nairobi, Kenya, were positive for hepatitis E. The WHO said arrangements are ongoing for molecular characterization tests and genotyping...