Undiagnosed illness sickens at least 276, many of them children along Colombia-Ecuador border

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http://noticias.latino.msn.com/salud/articulos.aspx?cp-documentid=22692404

More than 270 patients by unidentified virus in Colombia-Ecuador border
Bogotá, 23 nov (EFE).- Al menos 276 personas han resultado afectadas por un virus no identificado en las zonas urbana y rural de Orito, población colombiana de la frontera sur con Ecuador, informaron hoy fuentes del comité local de emergencias. Bogotá, 23 nov (EFE) .- At least 276 people have been affected by an unidentified virus in urban and rural areas of Orito, Colombia's population of the southern border with Ecuador, said sources with the local emergency committee.

Los enfermos, muchos de ellos niños, presentan los síntomas propios de la gastroenteritis, dijo a Efe en Bogotá el sacerdote católico Julio César Mora, designado por las autoridades municipales como portavoz en esta crisis. The patients, many of them children, have the symptoms of gastroenteritis, told Efe in Bogota Catholic priest Julio Cesar Mora, appointed by the municipal authorities as the spokesman in this crisis.

"La mayoría de los pacientes tienen vómito, fiebre y diarrea, y algunos problemas en la piel", explicó Mora, quien advirtió de que el número de lugareños afectados ha crecido en al menos 48 casos desde el domingo. "Most patients have vomiting, fever and diarrhea, and some skin problems," said Mora, who warned that the number of villagers affected has grown by at least 48 cases since Sunday.

El párroco precisó en declaraciones por teléfono que en el hospital municipal han sido ingresados 185 enfermos, mientras que los otros 91 han sido atendidos en dos centros clínicos privados. The pastor said by telephone said that the municipal hospital patients have been admitted to 185, while the other 91 have been treated at two private clinical centers.

"No sabemos si la causa es un alimento, agua contaminada o las fumigaciones (de cocales, con glifosato)", admitió Mora. "We do not know if the cause is a food, contaminated water or spraying (of coca fields with glyphosate)," admitted Mora.

El glifosato es un herbicida que se usa en Colombia para fumigar desde el aire grandes plantaciones de matas de coca. Glyphosate is a herbicide used in Colombia to fumigate the air from large plantations of coca plants.

La emergencia se desató el pasado viernes con una inusitada presencia de enfermos que buscaban atención en el casco urbano de Orito, localidad del departamento limítrofe del Putumayo y distante casi 1.000 kilómetros de la capital colombiana. The emergency was sparked last Friday with an unusual presence of patients seeking care in the town of Orito, a town adjacent Department of Putumayo and nearly 1,000 miles distant from the Colombian capital.

Ante el temor de que la causa de la epidemia fuera una contaminación en el acueducto, las autoridades locales suspendieron el suministro de agua potable. Fearing that the cause of the outbreak was contamination in the aqueduct, the local authorities suspended the supply of drinking water.

Sin embargo, la llegada al pueblo de campesinos con los mismos síntomas y la afectación de vecinos de barrios que se proveen de otra fuente de agua distinta del acueducto alertó a las autoridades sobre otra posible causa, advirtió Mora. However, the arrival in the village of peasants with the same symptoms and involvement of residents of neighborhoods that provide another source of water other than the aqueduct alerted authorities about another possible cause, said Mora.

A pesar de todo, "enviamos muestras de agua a Bogotá ya Neiva (capital del departamento vecino del Huila)", indicó el sacerdote. Nevertheless, "we send water samples to Bogotá and Neiva (capital of the neighboring department of Huila)," said the priest.

La coordinadora de Vigilancia de Salud Pública de Orito, Ruby Buelvas, aseguró a Efe que la causa probable de la epidemia solo podrá ser determinada por epidemiólogos de la capital colombiana que viajaron hoy a Orito. The coordinator of Public Health Surveillance Orito, Ruby Buelvas, told Efe that the probable cause of the epidemic can only be determined by epidemiologists who traveled the Colombian capital today Orito.

"Los epidemiólogos nos darán el resultado preliminar", dijo la experta, que declinó mencionar posibles hipótesis sobre esta epidemia. "Epidemiologists will give us the preliminary results," said the expert, who declined to name possible hypotheses about this epidemic. EFE EFE

jgh/mb/cpy jgh / mb / cpy

 

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Re: Undiagnosed illness sickens at least 276, many of them children along Colombia-Ecuador border

Judging by the symptoms (gastrointestinal + rash) and the possible link to water, Leptospirosis seems like a possible diagnosis.

 

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Re: Undiagnosed illness sickens at least 276, many of them children along Colombia-Ecuador border

http://www.colombianews.tv/news/112309-monday-tv-colombia-newscast

A strange virus is affecting farmers from Orito, Putumayo. More than 250 people are in the local hospital with intestinal problems

 

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Re: Undiagnosed illness sickens at least 276, many of them children along Colombia-Ecuador border

http://www.elpais.com.co/paisonline/notas/Noviembre232009/intoxicacions.html

Putumayo

Epidemia afecta a 140 habitantes de Orito Epidemic affects approximately 140 people in Orito


Elpais.com.co-Colprensa Elpais.com.co-Colprensa

El director del Instituto Nacional de Salud, Juan Gonzalo L?pez, confirm? este lunes que hay 140 personas afectadas por la epidemia que se desat? en Orito, Putumayo, desde la semana pasada, de la cual a?n se desconocen las causas. The director of the National Institute of Health, Juan Gonzalo Lopez, confirmed Monday that there are 140 people affected by the epidemic that broke out in Orito, Putumayo, since last week, of which the causes are still unknown.

El Director del INS explic? que en la zona se encuentran una ingeniera de alimentos y un m?dico epidemi?logo del Instituto para apoyar las acciones de investigaci?n del brote. The Director of the INS explained that in the area are an engineer with food and medical epidemiologist with the Institute to support research activities of the outbreak. De igual forma, est?n a la espera de una muestra de agua para analizarla. Similarly, are waiting for a water sample for analysis.

Seg?n la informaci?n oficial, de las 140 personas afectadas, 74 son mujeres y 66 hombres. According to official information, of the 140 people affected, 74 are women and 66 men. Seg?n el Director, la mayor?a de las personas que han llegado a los centros de salud del municipio han sido atendidas y dadas de alta. According to the director, most people have come to the municipal health centers have been treated and discharged.

Por las caracter?sticas de la sintomatolog?a -v?mito, diarrea y dolor estomacal- se ha especulado sobre las causas de la epidemia. Due to the characteristics of the symptoms-vomiting, diarrhea and stomach [pain]-it has been speculated on the causes of the epidemic.

La doctora Marcela Varona, coordinadora del grupo de salud ambiental, afirm? que es apresurado atribuir la epidemia a la presencia de glifosato en los cultivos, como se especula en la regi?n, porque seg?n informaci?n de la Polic?a, desde hace un mes no se hacen aspersiones a?reas en la zona. Dr. Marcela Varona, coordinator of environmental health group, said it is hasty to attribute the epidemic to the presence of glyphosate on crops, as is speculated in the region, because according to information from the Police, the last month are not spraying carriers in the area.

Varona, que lider? una investigaci?n en diferentes zonas del pa?s, incluyendo el Putumayo, para evaluar los efectos del glifosato en la salud humana, explic? que como el glifosato se metaboliza r?pido, en m?ximo 5 d?as aparecen manifestaciones cl?nicas, por lo que no se puede asegurar que el brote se deba a las aspersiones de este plaguicida. Varona, who led an investigation in different areas of the country, including the Putumayo to assess the effects of glyphosate on human health, explained that as glyphosate is metabolized quickly, maximum 5 days there is clinical evidence, so that you can not ensure that the outbreak is caused by the spraying of this pesticide.

 

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Re: Undiagnosed illness sickens at least 276, many of them children along Colombia-Ecuador border

This is a day old and not a local source, but it emphasizes the possiblility that the outbreak is linked to bad water.

http://spanish.peopledaily.com.cn/31614/6820520.html

SPANISH Enferman 300 personas por tomar agua contaminada en Colombia 300 people ill from drinking contaminated water in Colombia
Al menos 300 personas, incluidos varios menores, presentaron casos graves de gastroenteritis tras ingerir agua contaminada de la red de suministro p?blico en el departamento Guaviare, en el sureste de Colombia. At least 300 people, including several children presented severe cases of gastroenteritis after eating contaminated water from public supply network in the Guaviare department, in southeastern Colombia.

La alcaldesa del municipio de Orito, Argenis Vel?squez, dijo este domingo que una epidemia de gastroenteritis llam? la atenci?n de las autoridades para investigar el agua que surte el distrito a trav?s de la red de suministro p?blico. The mayor of the municipality of Orito, Argenis Velasquez said Sunday that an epidemic of gastroenteritis caught the attention of the authorities to investigate the water that supplies the district through the public grid.

"Unas 300 personas, entre adultos y menores de edad, han ingresado por urgencia al hospital San Jos?, presuntamente por el consumo de agua contaminada del acueducto municipal", dijo la alcaldesa. "About 300 people, between adults and minors, have been admitted to hospital for emergency San Jose, allegedly by consuming contaminated water from the municipal water," said the mayor.

Guaviare es uno de los departamentos colombianos con predominio de tierras planas o ligeramente onduladas de la llanura Amaz?nica, con una poblaci?n de 100.000 habitantes que se dedican generalmente a la agricultura y ganader?a. Guaviare is one of the Colombian provinces with predominantly flat or gently rolling land of the Amazon plain, with a population of 100,000 inhabitants who are usually in agriculture and livestock.

La funcionaria dijo que algunos de los afectados fueron dados de alta y otros permanecen en observaci?n m?dica. She said some of those affected were discharged and others remain under medical observation. (Xinhua) (Xinhua)

 

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Re: Undiagnosed illness sickens at least 276, many of them children along Colombia-Ecuador border

http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/occidente/emergencia-en-el-putumayo-por-brote-de-diarrea-_6646947-1

Emergency in Putumayo by diarrhea outbreak
Al Hospital de Orito, en el bajo Putumayo, llegaron 118 personas con diarrea. At the Hospital of Orito, Putumayo on bass, reached 118 people with diarrhea. A?n no se sabe qu? gener? el brote pero, las autoridades de salud analizan el agua que tomaron. It is unclear what caused the outbreak, but health officials analyze the water they took.


Los pacientes se han atendido en los dos ?ltimos d?as y todos provienen de seis de los 35 barrios registrados en el casco urbano de la poblaci?n ubicada a cuatro horas de Puerto As?s. Patients were treated in the past two days and all come from six of the 35 districts registered in the urban area of the town located four hours from Puerto Asis.

Hay ni?os y ni?as menores de 2 a?os, j?venes y adultos afectados con una infecci?n intestinal, seg?n el diagn?stico m?dico. There are children younger than 2 years, youth and adults afflicted with an intestinal infection, according to medical diagnosis.

El secretario de Salud del Putumayo, Tito Villaruel Guerrero, dijo que se tomaron muestras en la bocatoma del acueducto. Health Secretary Putumayo Villaruel Tito Guerrero, said samples were taken at the intake of the aqueduct. En este sector del municipio es abastecido por aguas de la quebrada Yarumo. In this sector of the municipality is fed by waters of the creek Yarumo.

Las muestras ser?n enviadas a Bogot?, al Instituto Nacional de Salud. The samples will be sent to Bogota, the National Institute of Health. Tambi?n se despachar?n pruebas del agua embotellada que se distribuye en la zona. Also released evidence of the bottled water is distributed in the area.

"La tesis m?dica es que la infecci?n pudo ser provocada por el agua", dijo Villaruel. "The medical argument is that the infection might be caused by water," said Villarruel.

A cada paciente se le tom? tambi?n una muestra de materia fecal que es analizada en los laboratorios de la secretar?a de Salud departamental en Mocoa. Each patient was also took a stool sample that is analyzed in the laboratories of the Ministry of Health departmental Mocoa.

"Todo el manejo ha sido ambulatorio, no hay pacientes hospitalizados. A trav?s del Hospital de Orito, que tuvo que llamar al personal de las diferentes ?reas, estamos manejando esta si-tuaci?n. Pero necesitamos ayuda para enviar las muestras a Bogot?", dijo Villaruel. "Everything has been handling ambulance, no hospital patients. Through Orito Hospital, he had to call the staff of the different areas, we are handling this situa-tion. But we need help to send samples to Bogota," said Villaruel.

Al Hospital de Puerto As?s hubo que recurrir para el suero intravenoso y los antibi?ticos para tratar a los pacientes porque los del Hospital de orito resultaron insuficientes para atender esta emergencia. Puerto Asis Hospital had to be used for intravenous drip and antibiotics to treat patients because orito Hospital were insufficient to meet this emergency.

La alcaldesa de Orito Argenis Vel?squez dijo que estaba descartado que el agua estuviera envenenada, como se rumor? en un comienzo. The mayor of Orito Argenis Velasquez said he [it was discareded] that the water was poisoned, as was rumored at first.

"Tambi?n nos llegaron pacientes del ?rea rural donde ni siquiera tienen acueducto. Aqu? el verano es muy fuerte y no sabemos si el clima los ha afectado porque a parte de la diarrea tienen fiebre", dijo Vel?squez. "We also came from rural areas where patients do not even have aqueduct. This summer is very strong and we do not know if the climate has affected because [in addition to] diarrhea [is] fever," Velasquez said.

Las veredas La Paz, Aguablanca y El Empalme, son las afectadas por la infecci?n intestinal. The villages of La Paz, Aguablanca and El Empalme, are affected by intestinal infection.

 

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Re: Undiagnosed illness sickens at least 276, many of them children along Colombia-Ecuador border

http://www.google.com/hostednews/epa/article/ALeqM5hTFYdHPaQDrtx_3ahyjcsDF4OLog

Colombia [doesn't know] The cause of an infection that left 339 patients in a locality
Por Agencia EFE ? hace 15 horas By Agencia EFE - 15 hours ago

Bogot?, 1 dic (EFE).- Las autoridades colombianas de salud admitieron hoy en Bogot? que a?n no han logrado establecer las causas de una infecci?n que en casi dos semanas ha dejado 339 enfermos en Orito, localidad de la frontera sur con Ecuador. Bogota, Dec. 1 (EFE) .- Colombian health authorities admitted today in Bogot? who have not yet succeeded in establishing the causes of infection in almost two weeks has left 339 patients in Orito, a town in the southern border with Ecuador.

Sin embargo, descartaron que la emergencia haya sido generada por la fumigaci?n ?rea de cocales con herbicida de glifosato, que fue una de las hip?tesis que se plantearon los responsables del servicio de sanidad de esa poblaci?n del departamento del Putumayo. However, it ruled that the emergency has been generated by the area of coca fumigation with glyphosate herbicide, which was one of the hypotheses raised the health service responsible for that population of the department of Putumayo.

Esta hip?tesis hab?a sido mencionada en su momento por el comit? local de emergencias junto a las posibilidades de contaminaci?n por alimentos o por el agua del acueducto municipal. This hypothesis had been mentioned at the time by the local emergency committee with the possibility of contamination by food or water from municipal water.

El Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS) asegur? en un comunicado que en la zona no se fumiga con glifosato desde hace m?s de un mes, seg?n informes de la Direcci?n Antinarc?ticos de la Polic?a Nacional, por lo que se ha descartado una posible infecci?n con este producto qu?mico. The National Institute of Health (NIH) said in a statement that the area was not sprayed with glyphosate for over a month, according to reports from the National Police Counternarcotics, so has ruled out a possible infection with this chemical.

"En la actualidad se maneja la hip?tesis de que el origen de la situaci?n es viral, por la presencia de rotavirus en la mayor?a de muestras biol?gicas remitidas para su an?lisis al INS", a?adi? la dependencia gubernamental. "Today it handles the hypothesis that the origin of the situation is viral, the presence of rotavirus in most biological samples sent for analysis to the INS, the government agency said.

?sta reconoci? que "a?n est? en estudio" la posible causa de este problema que se desat? el pasado 18 de noviembre y que tres d?as despu?s le fue notificado a la instituci?n oficial en Bogot?. It acknowledged that "is still under study" the possible cause of this problem that erupted on 18 November and three days later he was notified to the official institution in Bogot?.

Los enfermos, tanto de la zona urbana como de la rural, presentaban s?ntomas propios de gastroenteritis, como diarrea, dolor abdominal, n?useas, v?mito y fiebre. Patients in both the urban and the rural, had symptoms of gastroenteritis, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fever.

El portavoz del comit? local de emergencias, el sacerdote cat?lico Julio C?sar Mora, dijo a Efe que hasta el domingo pasado se ten?an registrados 339 casos de enfermos. The spokesman for the local emergency committee, the Catholic priest Julio Cesar Mora, told Efe that is until last Sunday had registered 339 cases of patients.

"Ayer (por el lunes) no se report? ning?n caso", a?adi? Mora, que se desempe?a como p?rroco de la poblaci?n y que apunt? que no tiene conocimiento de que hoy se hayan presentado nuevos pacientes en los centros m?dicos. "Yesterday (on Monday) there were no reported case," said Mora, who serves as pastor of the population and said he was not aware that today have brought new patients at medical centers.

Seg?n el INS, "en este momento se considera que la emergencia est? controlada y ha disminuido significativamente el n?mero de consultas que se corresponden con los s?ntomas descritos". According to the INS, "at present it is considered that the emergency is under control and has significantly reduced the number of queries that correspond to these signs."

 

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Re: Undiagnosed illness sickens at least 276, many of them children along Colombia-Ecuador border

Rash has now been removed from the list of symptoms, so this now sounds like some kind of gastroenteritis. Rotavirus would certainly do it, and as a bonus would explain the reports of many children infected.