Venezuela - Deaths in Maracay Central Hospital and elsehwere by unidentified illness(es?) - six deaths due to chikungunya confirmed

[Treyfish]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

:tiphat:I guess everything was just one big false alarm

Health Secretary Aragua states that no deaths have "common denominator"
He denied pollution in HCM


Thursday, September 11th at 16:40:39


At a press conference from the Central Hospital of Maracay, Luis Lopez, regional health secretary Aragua, spoke about what it indicated as "rumors and misinformation" by various media and technology from the afternoon of Wednesday, September 10 platforms.






"The signs are intended reveal Maracay Central Hospital as immersed in certain situations or irregularities from the point of view of health. Clarify and refute We, the people calling for calm.'s True that there are deaths from Ebola or Ebola in Related the hospital or in Aragua. did not even study, "said Lopez.

"We deny that there meningococcemia deaths, there is no such case. I've Done studies of people who unfortunately died and none have been linked to such diseases," insisted the secretary.

He also denied that the 1st floor were closed for pollution but works announced from January 2014 noted the same with the Pediatric Emergency hospital in the city of Maracay are ahead.

He further noted that no death for a "common denominator" that could demonstrate similar causes that show any medical alert. Lopez revealed that they are also picking floors 6 and 7 of the HCM and the ICU room.

He also reviewed other developments as total waterproofing place and the delivery of new equipment trauma.

He revealed that take legal action against those identified as generation of irresponsible reporting, which generate anxiety in the population.

Lopez gave the floor to Ernesto Flores epidemiologist to clinically explain the particular cases of the death of a child and an adult for reasons still being investigated.

Ernesto Flores Epidemiologist no "underlying disease" complicating viral or bacterial table q can unleash lethal. LuisLopezPSUV
- ARAGUA HEALTH (SaludPOTENCIA) September 11, 2014

Ernesto Flores: "Some families have no clear medical case history important why periodic consultation.". LuisLopezPSUV
- ARAGUA HEALTH (SaludPOTENCIA) September 11, 2014

Epidemiologist Ernesto Flores "sign of an elder was sent to Ccs Inst of Hygiene and no result has come"LuisLopezPSUV
- ARAGUA HEALTH (SaludPOTENCIA) September 11, 2014


Ernesto Flores: "Some families have no clear medical case history important why periodic consultation.". LuisLopezPSUV
- ARAGUA HEALTH (SaludPOTENCIA) September 11, 2014 :tiphat:http://www.elperiodiquito.com/artic...-fallecimientos-no-poseen--denominador-comun-

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

(Caracas, September 11. Noticias24) .- Sectoral Secretary of Popular Power for Health Aragua state and chairman of the Health Corporation of that entity, Luis Lopez, Noticias24 talks on TV about "whispering campaign" that there bacteria in the Central Hospital of Maracay.

He said that right now the hospital is in a work process, as there is "sufficient investment by the Government, it is absolutely true that we have some kind of bacteria that has caused a death. In the 1st floor halls are being operated to place better, it is incredible that there is any bacteria. "

Denied this remark, that in his opinion, just looking upset the tranquility "of the Venezuelan people, in particular, of those who live here in Aragua state.":magnify:

He added that what exists in the hospital is a construction part of the pavilions, "there is no drop in the care system, there is no bacteria and there are no isolated patients for this, but because they are making some arrangements. No cases of Ebola or something related. "

He argued that in the Central Hospital of Maracay conentran only to improve service to patients, "these accusations are false, there is no proven that someone has died because of someone else cause."

"If we had a case of Ebola we were the first to broadcast it, this would already know Venezuela as specific actions are needed, this is false, no cases of this, not suspect anyone," said the secretary of the People's Power Sector for Health Aragua state.

Lopez explained that if he becomes a case of this type occur, be the first to take action for this. "All patients who die, they performed an autopsy, the results yield the causes of death, of all that might happen in the hospital, is linked to any other (person).":tiphat:http://www.noticias24.com/venezuela...umores-contra-el-hospital-central-de-maracay/

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unknown disease

Those affected died in 72 hours. Request support from international health agencies to determine the cause.

Send by mail
print out
rectify

LAUDELYN SEQUERA
Maracay September 11, 2014 - 03:02 pm

The president of the Medical College of Aragua, Angel Sarmiento, reported that eight people have died in the Central Hospital of Maracay in the last 72 hours for a disease that is yet to be determined.

He ruled that it was Ebola, meniccocemia, dengue or chikungunya because they practiced the epidemiological evidence.

"We know what we are facing," Sarmiento said. "We do not know if it's a virus or bacteria."

Those killed were four adults and four children who arrived with the same symptoms, from different areas of Aragua. Sarmiento said that among those affected there is no epidemiological correlation geographically. Two of them residing in the area of Carabobo state Aguas Calientes, another lived in the town of Las Tejer?as, another in the town Linares Alc?ntara and one in El Lim?n, Mario Brice?o Iragorry municipality,

The first case occurred in El Lim?n, at midnight last Tuesday night. "The patient died within 72 hours of abruptly with massive bleeding," said Sarmiento.

He reported that people had the same symptoms: small hemorrhages within 72 hours progressed and became fever and massive bleeding, a sepsias product, which is a severe generalized infection. This led to multiorgan failure that ended in bleeding consumption of coagulation factors. This was the official cause death.

Sarmiento asked those without need to go to the Central Hospital of Maracay not go and requested assistance from international health agencies. "How did you know what cure?" He said.:tiphat:http://www.el-nacional.com/regiones...onocida_0_481151954.html#.VBG2xq0LHvc.twitter

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Secretary Luis Lopez said that there is no lethal Ebola virus or other Aragua

Posted by: Maryory Arias September 11, 2014 Front Page, Regional


(Ottawa, September 11. TeleAragua) .- The regional health secretary, Luis L?pez Thursday denied the allegations made by the president of the medical college, Angel Sarmiento, clarifying that in Aragua state has not registered any case of virus or some other lethal Ebola virus, also called for calm and said Sarmiento will have to check the eight deaths announced.

In turn Dr. Ernesto Flores epidemiological Aragua state, said that there were two deaths from case study, an adult 55 years and a boy of 13 years, the culture samples were sent to determine the bacteria that caused the deaths.:tiphat:http://telearagua.com/neo/secretari...o-existe-ebola-ni-otro-virus-letal-en-aragua/

 

[alert]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

KPC? It sounds like the problem is in the hospital itself, but there is no mention of HCW affected. If the reporting is incorrect and this is actually being acquired in the community, perhaps test for dengue and leptospirosis?

http://www.infobae.com/2014/09/12/1...-extrana-enfermedad-que-puso-alerta-venezuela

Eight dead in 10 days let a strange disease that alerted Venezuela


Deaths occur in just 72 hours and you threw that balance concern. Maduro's government downplayed the problem, saying it is a "campaign of misinformation and terrorism"

"We do not know what it is," admitted Douglas León Natera, president of the Venezuelan Medical Federation. "There is a full alarm in Aragua state because there is absolute silence from the health authorities of the state, I understand that know absolutely nothing, because people who are in charge of these offices are not doctors and do not know public health or epidemiology, "he said in comments reported by El Nuevo Herald.

Venezuelan doctors launched Thursday a wake-up call after the appearance of a mysterious disease that kills within 72 hours and that the hospitals in the country do not know how to deal.

The warning was minimized by Chavez

However, the warning was minimized by government spokespersons Nicolas Maduro, who qualified to the alarm of doctors as a "campaign of disinformation and terrorism", even when the disease in 10 days left a toll of eight dead in the central state Aragua.

The same paper adds that, despite official indifference, the country's doctors said there is reason for concern against a contagious and highly dangerous disease of unknown origin.

Meanwhile, the governor of Aragua, the official Tarek El Aissami said it is false that there is an "alleged bacteria in the Central Hospital of Maracay." In his Twitter account,TareckPSUV, reported that "have unleashed chains msm and digital networks on alleged bacteria in the Central Hospital of Maracay. Totally false."

In another development, President of the Medical Association of Aragua state, Angel Sarmiento said the fact that doctors are unable to treat the condition generates "great concern".

"We do not know if it is being produced by a bacterium, we do not know if it's a virus. Meningococcemia was discarded. Was being tested discard staph and all, but unfortunately has not been given the diagnosis," said the doctor from Maracay.

"The only thing common is the way the disease presents"

"The only thing common is the way the disease occurs," he said in a telephone interview.

The eight victims, from different points of Aragua, were transferred to the state capital, Ottawa, with symptoms including malaise, fever, skin spots and "bubbles" in the mouth.

Those spots, then became blisters and soon patients began presenting internal and external bleeding. "After the bleeding starts, is respiratory failure, liver failure, kidney failure and death within 72 hours," he said Sarmiento.

 

[alert]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Well, this rules out most of the things I was thinking. I'm stumped now. Blisters is a very unusual symptom as well.

http://www.abc.es/internacional/20140912/abci-mueren-pacientes-venezuela-201409120246.html

Eight patients died at a hospital in Venezuela because of an unknown disease

LUDMILA Vinogradoff / CORRESPONDENT IN CARACAS

Day 12/09/2014 - 1:27 p.m.

The 8 victims, 4 adults and 4 children experienced similar hemorrhagic fever syndrome

Eight patients died at a hospital in Venezuela because of an unknown disease

In the last 72 hours eight people died in the Central Hospital of Maracay, located two hours from Caracas, by an unknown disease caused by a virus or bacteria has not been identified, Angel Sarmiento, president of the Medical Association reported Aragua state.

In its regional press conference, the doctor said Sarmiento 8 victims, 4 adults and 4 children experienced similar hemorrhagic fever syndrome. The symptoms were the same: 40 degrees high fever, malaise and skin rash which then form blisters.

Sepsis that cause multiple organ failure resulting disseminated intravascular coagulation, bleeding from the ear and nose and the subsequent collapse of the body are also presented.

Sarmiento denied that the causes of the disease are Ebola, meniccocemia, dengue, chikungunya or contamination in the health center of Leeds, for patients came from different parts of the neighboring states of Carabobo and Aragua. Neither knows the method of transmission of the disease so he recommended waiting for the results of the analyzes of the deceased.

However, the governor of Aragua, Tarek El Aissami, dismissed the president of the College of Physicians. In his twitter account said it was "false" there is a bacteria in the Hospital of Maracay. "It is not surprising that the adeco president of the College of Physicians of Aragua whoever leads this campaign of rumors and terrorism."

 

[alert]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

http://elvenezolanonews.com/misteri...tal-de-maracay-entregan-cadaver-sin-autopsia/

(September 12, 2014 Venezuelan) .- Yamin Herrera is familiar associate of Alexander Ortiz, who was killed Monday by an unknown disease in Maracay Central Hospital (HCM), Aragua state. He said the man did not realize the respective autopsy for a reason still unknown.

Herrera Alexander reported that when entering the health center had a fever and the elapsed times got worse.

"For Sunday night Alexander was completely swollen and I could not breathe and had bruises blood was not circulating well. Could only say that he was out of breath and died on Monday morning," he said.

Ortiz was 53 years old and lived in Caracas Avenue El Lim?n.'s Body had to be buried immediately because they were denied proper medical autopsy Give you for the diagnosis of death.

Also the family of the young Leandro Ruiz (12) gave their statements. The press reported that the child was referred to Hcm fever and died before 72 hours. Briefly said the body was not delivered by the health center but was sent to the morgue Cicpc because they did not want to have him autopsy due rigor.

A wave of complaints in relation to the recently reported deaths of eight people in the same place, because of unknown reasons.

 

[alert]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

http://www.el-nacional.com/sociedad/Exigen-Gobierno-informacion-muertes-Maracay_0_481751855.html

Require the Government to provide accurate information on deaths in Maracay


Central Hospital of Maracay

Central Hospital of Maracay

Julio Castro, a researcher at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, UCV, stressed the need to keep people become anxious. "You have to tell the truth: 'We do not know what's going on, but we will investigate," said He dismissed that it was an outbreak of Ebola.

the national web
September 12, 2014 - 11:17 a.m.


Julio Castro, an infectious disease physician, urged the Government to give accurate information about the eight deaths that occurred in the Central Hospital of Maracay by illnesses that are yet to be determined.

In an interview on Onda The Superstation, professor and researcher at the Institute of Tropical Medicine Central University of Venezuela criticized the governor of Aragua state, Tarek El Aissami, deny that there is an irregular situation.

"In terms of managing the media, you can not say that nothing happens, because we know that is not so. That makes people fret. We must say the truth: 'We do not know what's going on, but we will investigate, "he said.

He said that in this research the first thing to be determined "is if an outbreak is an abnormal situation that has a common source or whether it is a matter of chance, which sometimes happens."

Patients with the disease, which until now called acute febrile hemorrhagic syndrome, showed spots on the body, high fever and massive bleeding that caused their deaths, in a span of 72 hours.

"When you have a virus, bacteria and even parasites can be severe enough to attack your clotting. You can even mourn blood. Such bleeding box you are generally the end of serious illnesses, and some resemble other, "he added.

He stressed the need for the political entity and the physician work together to reassure people: "You have to say what we are sure is not, and is not Ebola. It is extremely unlikely. Must be an outbreak of some more or less known disease. Do not think it's a situation that gets out of hand. "

 

[JJackson]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

The warning was minimized by Chavez

Who is Chavez? I am assuming it is not Hugo, he has been dead a while, or is this just a knee jerk blame everything on Chavez MSM reaction?

 

[alert]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Who is Chavez? I am assuming it is not Hugo or is this just a knee jerk blame everything on Chavez MSM reaction?

I think it's actually a translation error. I think the intent is that the warning was minimized by the government, as the next line cites Maduro, who has replaced Chavez.

 

[JJackson]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

I went back to the original document and it says

"La advertencia fue minimizada por el chavismo"

in enormous orange bold caps. Is chavismo a term for followers of their former leader? Sorry my Spanish is poor.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Source: http://english.eluniversal.com/naci...or-denies-lethal-virus-in-venezuelan-hospital

Governor denies lethal virus in Venezuelan hospital
The state governor for ruling PSUV party termed "terrorist act," a statement issued by the president of the local medical association, and promised to request the Attorney General's Office an investigation into the physician
Aragua state governor claimed that the causes of death of eight patients at a state hospital were known (TV screen capture)

EL UNIVERSAL
Friday September 12, 2014 03:17 PM
Tareck El Aissami, the governor of Aragua state, north Venezuela, denied that the local Central Hospital had been hit by a dangerous virus or bacteria. The statement was issued after the president of the Aragua Medical Association, ?ngel Sarmiento, reported on Thursday the death of eight people in 72 hours for unknown reasons...

 

[MHSC]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

FAMILY BREAK THE SILENCE ! Not allowed in autopsies on deceased

According Yamin Herrera, associate of Alexander Ortiz , who died Monday by an unknown disease family , reported that upon entering the hospital maracayero presented fever and elapse times got worse .

" Sunday night for Alexander was completely swollen and I could not breathe and had bruises blood was not circulating well . He could only say that he was out of breath and died on Monday morning , " he said.

Ortiz was 53 years old and lived in Caracas Avenue El Lim?n. is possible that this case falls into the other died because they were not family or friends . The body of the deceased had to be buried immediately because they were denied proper medical autopsy Give you for the diagnosis of death.

Also the family of the young Leandro Ruiz (12 ) gave their statements. The press reported that the child was referred to Hcm fever and died before 72 hours. Briefly said the body was not delivered by the health center but was sent to the morgue Cicpc because they did not want to have him autopsy due rigor.

http://linkis.com/bit.ly/ruckq

 

[MHSC]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

The Aissami denounce to MP for President of the College of Physicians

...
"Mr. Sarmiento said that in the last 72 hours 8 patients had died. The HCM is a hospital that records different pathologies.'s True that this number of patients have died in those 72 hours." he said.

Moreover, the regional president explained the cause of death of each of these individuals. "The last patient who died, 13 years, 4 months data hospitalized for peritonitis. Then a girl of 14 months by a hypovolemic shock, inflammation of the intestinal tract. further, one month old baby, the product of a tea plant poisoning. Two men died from cancer ... a patient with diabetes ... ". He also said that it has requested the receipt of the medical records of all of them and none was victim of a rare disease.

...

He finished, ensuring that the intervention and support of the National Assembly and the Attorney General was requested to investigate cases of difunci?n false information.

http://elsiglo.com.ve/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=87218

 

[DeadEye]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

From what I can tell, the Government is covering this up. They have just denounced (arrested?) the regional ministry medical head for "lying" and have accused him of doing it for political purposes as he is not a Chavista (member of the ruling party).

https://twitter.com/FederAlvarez

This TW feed is in Spanish, but it look like its from a doc who has a front row seat and is being very specific: 8 dead. One alive. All shipped to this hospital from other regions/hospitals. General discomfort. Red skin, then hemorrhage. He is saying that the twitter images being posted are incorrect. He said he has not seen a public posted image that looks anything like any of the sick. He said that samples have been sent to the national labs but no results yet. Further, the victims do not know each other or have anything identifiable in common.

 

[alert]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

There may be more than one thing going on here. It is also possible that reports have included ALL deaths in this hospital, even though some may be unrelated to the unexplained outbreak.

I do note that there are several symptoms you might expect if this is all one unexplained illness, that have not yet been reported, such as vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

http://www.caracol.com.co/noticias/...d-letal-en-el-pais/20140912/nota/2412226.aspx

Venezuelan officials deny existence of lethal disease in the country
Venezuelan authorities today rejected the alleged existence of a deadly virus in a hospital in Maracay (center) and denounced a campaign to create unrest after a medical profession alerted eight deaths a suspected illness "abrupt" that causes death in 72 hours.

Reuters | September 12, 2014

Caracas, Sep 12 (EFE) Venezuelan authorities .- today rejected the alleged existence of a deadly virus in a hospital in Kolkata (center) and denounced a campaign to create unrest after a medical profession alerted eight deaths a suspected illness "abrupt" that causes death in 72 hours.

"I must start categorically denying the existence of any virus or bacteria in the spaces of the Central Hospital of Maracay to place at risk the lives of patients," he said at a press conference Tarek el Aissami, governor of Aragua state, which is the capital Maracay.

The Aissami categorically denied the president of the College of Medical Maracay, Angel Sarmiento, who on Thursday denounced the existence of a supposed unknown disease in one of the public hospitals in the state.

The alleged illness, according to Sarmiento, has killed four children and four adults, has no epidemiological or geographical connection, "the only connection are the symptoms and how abruptly die," the doctor said in an interview with a local station.

According to the doctor, the alleged disease occurred as "a hemorrhagic fever syndrome" with mouth sores, bleeding into the skin, oral and nasal bleeding, liver and kidney failure, respiratory distress, and death by "disseminated intravascular coagulation" .

For the governor, reporting Sarmiento is part of a "terrorist matrix having a fundamental purpose, which is to create anxiety, anguish in arag?e?a population," he said.

The Aissami said the patients died of various diseases and none of them resulted from "fever bleeding," Cone said before Sarmiento.

"You what a criminal, bandit, who irresponsibly using his medical condition without inquiry launched this campaign, without investigating and has placed in these last hours to the town of Aragua in terrible distress," said El Aissami addressing Sarmiento.

The chavista governor announced that he would ask the Attorney for a judicial inquiry Sarmiento answer for "this criminal and terrorist act," he has done in the state of Aragua.

He said Sarmiento actions are part of a "terrorist" campaign, a sequel to the "guarimbas" in Venezuela, meaning by that the wave of anti-government protests began last February in the country.

The Aissami detailed the causes of death of six of the 8 people who, he said, are cited by Sarmiento, stating that one died by poisoning, another for "hypovolemic" shock and another "a picture of cancer" plus quarter patient died at 7 hours of admission for skin infections.

The fifth was a boy of 12 who presented a blood disease under study and forensic studies determined as a box of leukemia, while the sixth was a 64-year-old who died of diabetes.

The Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information, Delcy Rodriguez, said, meanwhile, the social network Twitter that "media have been provided for this campaign that causes anxiety in the population must be subject to appropriate legal action".

The opposition leader Maria Corina Machado backed Sarmiento, whom he described as a "persecuted by the regime," and called for "an immediate and responsible action by health authorities."

"My support Pres Aragua State Medical College and doctors of HC Mcy, persecuted by the regime to denounce the serious situation," Machado tweeted. EFE

 

[MHSC]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Government announces action against media that have reported on the Hospital of Maracay

THE NATIONAL WEB
SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 - 2:02 PM

Delcy Rodr?guez, Minister of Communication and Information, said legal action against media "have been borrowed for this campaign that causes anxiety in the population" generated in Maracay be exercised.

.....

Means have been provided for this campaign that causes anxiety in the population must be subject to appropriate legal action!

Campaign unleashed unknown disease in hospital Maracay is ABSOLUTELY FALSE. We ask the media to respect Vzlana population

http://www.el-nacional.com/politica/Gobierno-ejercera-acciones-zozobra-Maracay_0_481751883.html

 

[alert]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

A good list of diagnoses under investigation:

http://www.el-nacional.com/sociedad/sabemos-virus-bacteria_0_481152047.html
"I do not know if it's a virus or bacteria"

They ruled out that patients have Maracay Central Hospital died of meningococcemia, Ebola, dengue or chikungunya


LAUDELYN SEQUERA | Maracay
LISSETTE CARDONA
JORGE MARIA EMILIA M.
September 12, 2014 - 12:01 am


Yesterday morning, at the main entrance and the emergence of the Central Hospital of Maracay looked healthcare personnel using masks. At dawn, social media echoed the rumor that there were several deaths in the health center because of meningococcemia caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis, which frequently lives in the airways were made.

The president of the Medical College of Aragua, Angel Sarmiento, reported that 8 people died in the HCM in recent days by a disease that is yet to be determined and that the times called acute febrile hemorrhagic syndrome.

Sarmiento denied that it is Ebola, meningoccemia, dengue or chikungunya, because they practiced the immunological tests.

He reported that the victims were four adults and four children who came to HCM with the same symptoms: spots on the body that turned into blisters, fever, small hemorrhages that became massive hemorrhage, the result of a severe generalized infection, and multiorgan failure that caused death. The disease develops in the course of 72 hours.

Sarmiento among patients specified that there is no epidemiological geographical correlation. Two of the dead residing in the Aguas Calientes Carabobo state sector; the rest lived in the town of Las Tejer?as, municipality Linares Alc?ntara, and Lim?n, Mario Brice?o Iragorry municipality.

The first case occurred in El Lim?n, on Tuesday at midnight. Alexander Ortiz Olavarrieta The patient entered the hospital arag?e?o stomatitis, but died less than 24 hours due to respiratory failure and sepsis in the skin.

Yanni Herrera, Ortiz family, said that the patient was progressively swollen hands and had difficulty breathing. "It started to become sepsis in the back, then the private parts, he complained he could not breathe and died early Tuesday of respiratory failure."

The head of the College of Physicians said that after the death of the staff urged the family to bury the bodies without autopsy them "because they were so contaminated."

"We know what we are facing. We do not know if it's a virus or bacteria. How to heal what we do not know? ". For now, awaiting the results of biological tests performed and trust to give a precise diagnosis.

A source who preferred to protect his identity revealed that health staff recommended HCM vaccinated against meningococcemia.




Hypothesis. Angel Rafael Orihuela, former health minister and a specialist in tropical diseases referred to several hypotheses that could explain the deaths by the similarity of symptoms with various diseases. One is the meningoccemia, but noted that there has been no epidemic in the country. Ritketsiosis mentioned, caused by a mite that lives in mice, or plague caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.

"It may be hemorrhagic dengue, but it is very rare that an outbreak occurs with sudden death. San Casimiro in Aragua, was the focus of jungle yellow fever. In that case one of the updates will be the death of monkeys in the area, "he said.

The specialist also said that Venezuela has Guanarito hemorrhagic fever, which has only in Portuguese. He noted that the hantavirus causes bleeding due to inhalation of bacteria from dead mice. He said there are no records of clinical symptoms with the symptoms exhibited by victims who are related to chikungunya. He did not rule out a hemorrhagic viral fever of unknown origin or rodenticide poisoning case.

 

[alert]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

I've been fearing a pox virus too, after reading of "blisters", but what pox virus could be found in Venezuela that would be potentially fatal? The lack of obvious H2H spread seems to rule out chickenpox or smallpox. And smallpox is eradicated.

Published Date: 2014-09-12 19:52:18
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed hemorrhagic fever - Venezuela: (AR) fatal, RFI
Archive Number: 20140912.2767248

UNDIAGNOSED HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - VENEZUELA: (ARAGUA) FATAL, 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

[1]
Date: Thu 11 Sep 2014
Source: La Patilla [in Spanish, trans. Mod.MPP, edited]
http://www.lapatilla.com/site/2014/...al-de-maracay-por-enfermedad-no-identificada/


El Carabobeno [a news media source] reports that on Thu 11 Sep 2014, Angel Sarmiento, President of the Physician's College of the state of Aragua, noted that in the last 72 hours 8 people have died in the Maracay Central Hospital from an unidentified illness.

At the press conference, the doctor stated that they had treated 4 adults and 4 children, who presented with generalized malaise, fever, spots on the body, which then became blisters and internal hemorrhages.

Sarmiento said in a Union Radio program that specimens have already been sent to the National Institute of Health in Caracas in order to determine the disease that is responsible for the death. He denied that the Maracay Central Hospital was quarantined.

He rejected information that has been circulating on social networks about a possible isolation of the health center for this reason. He said that early in the morning there was an incident on the 1st floor, caused by the same patients, but it was not a formal decision taken by the health authorities.

He said that in the next few hours the Aragua Health Corporation (Corposalud) will issue a statement to confirm the 8 deaths and it is expected to provide more details of what happened and the investigations being carried out to clarify the causes of the deaths.

Earlier, the President of the Aragua Physician's College [CMA], Angel Sarmiento, gave a press conference in order to [report] the sudden deaths of children, adults, and adolescents that were admitted to the Maracay Central Hospital in the last few hours, according to El Aragueno [a media source].

Sarmiento said that, so far, the diagnosis of patients who have died is unknown. He explained that this presented as an "acute hemorrhagic fever syndrome" that resulted in an abrupt death within a period not exceeding 72 hours."

He reported that the patients reached the Maracay hospital with symptoms, coming from other municipalities and remote sectors.

"So far, there have been 8 deaths in adults and children," he said.

The president of the CMA said they were waiting for results from the National Institute of Health on [the specimens from] these cases in order to determine the diagnosis of this "rare" disease with unfamiliar details. He called for calm among the public at large, and, for the present time, he recommended that people not visit the Maracay Central Hospital because, in his opinion, "even visitors may be affected."

[Byline: Ysa Rodriguez]

--
Communicated by:
Ryan McGinnis
<ryan@bigstormpicture.com>

******
[2]
Date: Thu 11 Sep 2014
Source: El Universal [in Spanish, trans. Mod.MPP, edited]
http://www.eluniversal.com/vida/140...-en-hospital-de-maracay-por-enfermedad-descon


The Physician's College of Aragua declared an alarm following the deaths of 8 people during the last several hours in the Central Hospital of Maracay (HCM), due to a virus or bacterium, which has not as yet been identified.

The information was confirmed on Thursday [11 Sep 2014] by the President of the College, Angel Sarmiento, who explained that the 8 victims, 4 adults and an equal number of children, presented the same symptoms, leading to death within 72 hours. He indicated that they presented with a clinical picture of fever up to 40 deg C [104 deg F], generalized malaise, and skin eruptions that progressed into blisters. Furthermore, they presented with sepsis, leading to multiorgan failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation, bleeding from the ears and nose, and leading to generalized collapse [and death].

Sarmiento indicated that there have not been prior cases admitted [to the hospital] with the same symptoms, mentioning that the clinical histories of each patient were compatible with an acute hemorrhagic fever.

The diagnoses of Ebola virus disease or meningococcemia, as were rumored on social media networks, were discarded. He also mentioned that chikungunya or dengue fever were discarded as well. He indicated that they are waiting for results from specimens taken from the bodies of the victims to determine whether they are dealing with a viral or bacterial disease.

The representative of the [Physician's College] mentioned that 2 of the patients came from the state of Carabobo, and the rest came from the municipalities of Francisco Linares Alcantara (La Morita), Mario Briceno Iragorry (El Limon), and Santos Michelena (Las Tejerias) in the state of Aragua. He also mentioned that there was not any contamination in the HCM.

The route of transmission of this disease is not known.

[Byline: Erika Guillen]

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

******
[3]
Date: Thu 11 Sep 2014
Source: El Universal [edited]
http://english.eluniversal.com/naci...s-virus-related-deaths-at-venezuelan-hospital


Tareck El Aissami, ruling party Governor of Aragua state, north Venezuela, dismissed reports about an "alleged (deadly) bacteria at Maracay Central Hospital." Via his twitter account, the governor said the reports spread via digital networks about the alleged bacteria were not true at all.

El Aissami did not confirm, though, the death of 8 people at the central hospital, as reported by the president of the Aragua State Medical Association, Angel Sarmiento.

"It is no surprise that the president of the Aragua State Medical Association, a member of Accion Democratica (Democratic Action) party, has been heading this campaign of rumors and terrorism," the governor twitted.

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

[So, following the 3rd media report ([3]) above, the question that comes to mind is whether this is all hype for political motivation or is there something real going on, with initial denial? Clearly there is a need for more information to clarify the actual situation.

Speculating on the possible etiology of the described deaths, from the brief description of the clinical presentation, it appears as though there may be cases of either a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) or some as yet unidentified bacterial infection leading to sepsis with disseminated intravascular coagulation that have occurred in individuals from the states of Aragua and Carabobo.

From the 2nd media report above (in [2] above), 2 of the cases have come from the State of Carabobo, and the other 6 cases were from 3 different municipalities in the state of Aragua: Francisco Linares Alcantara (La Morita), Mario Briceno Iragorry (El Limon), and Santos Michelena (Las Tejerias). It is unclear whether these are 8 unrelated cases that were transferred to the State (Aragua) capital city Maracay for treatment or whether one or more of these cases were related in some way so that there was similar exposure to the as yet unidentified pathogen responsible for their illness. Clearly, more information from knowledgeable sources is needed and would be greatly appreciated.

The media reports mention the onset of panic in the general public, as rumors surrounding these cases are spreading exponentially through social media platforms. Given the media attention to the ongoing Ebola outbreaks in West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this is not surprising.

While the media report mentions that the President of the Aragua College of Physicians stated that Ebola virus disease, meningococcemia, dengue, and chikungunya virus infections have been ruled out as possible diagnoses, specific information on the laboratory tests performed has not been provided.

Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever, caused by Guanarito virus, a member of the Tacaribe complex of the _Arenaviridae_ family, is an RNA virus that was first identified in 1989. Implicated rodents for transmission include _Sigmodon alstoni_, the cotton rat (see image at http://www.planet-mammiferes.org/Photos/Rongeur/Myomo/Sigmod/SigmAls2.gif) and _Zygodontomys brevicauda_, the cane mouse (see image at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resources/Heideman_Paul/Zygod_brevicauda/medium.jpg). Other viruses previously described in Venezuela include another arenavirus identified in the same geographical area, Pirital virus (not felt to be pathogenic in humans), and the Cano Delgadito virus (not previously identified as a human pathogen), a hantavirus from the _Bunyaviridae_ family.

Borrowing from Mod.TY's comment in ProMED post Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever - Venezuela: susp, RFI 20140317.2336965, "Guanarito virus is an arenavirus related to 3 other South American arenaviruses that are of significant public health concern: Machupo virus (Bolivian hemorrhagic fever), Junin virus (Argentinian hemorrhagic fever), and Sabia virus (Brazilian hemorrhagic fever)."

A description of clinical presentations of Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever includes "fever, toxicity, headache, arthralgia, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and haemorrhagic manifestations. Other features include facial oedema, cervical lymphadenopathy, nausea/vomiting, cough, chest or abdominal pain, and convulsions" (see ref. 3). Cases of Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever have occurred in the states of Portuguesa and Barinas in the central western part of Venezuela but have not been reported outside of this area (see prior ProMED-mail posts referenced below). The media descriptions of the clinical course mentions a rash progressing to blisters -- not something usually seen with Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever, and makes one wonder if there might be one of the pox virus diseases.

We await more information from knowledgeable sources in the region.

 

[alert]

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

Re: Venezuela - Eight dead in Maracay Central Hospital by unidentified illness - Aragua state

If this is a false report, what is the motive behind it? Simply to spread fear does not sounds plausible.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/he...or-denies-existence-fast-acting-deadly-virus/

Venezuelan governor denies existence of fast-acting deadly virus

Published September 13, 2014/

A Venezuelan governor denied that eight people were killed by a deadly, fast-acting virus at a hospital in the north-central city of Maracay and accused the head of the local medical association of deliberately attempting to sow panic among the local population.

"I need to start by categorically denying the existence of some virus or bacteria on the premises of the Maracay Central Hospital that is putting the lives of patients at risk," Tarek el Aissami, governor of the north-central state of Aragua, whose capital is Maracay, said Friday in a press conference.

El Aissami refuted remarks made by the head of Maracay's medical association, Angel Sarmiento, who on Thursday said an unknown fatal illness at one of the state's public hospitals was claiming the lives of its victims in as few as 72 hours.

The supposed illness, which according to Sarmiento has killed four minors and four adults, has no epidemiological or geographical connection. "The only connection is the symptoms and the abrupt way in which they're dying," the physician told a local radio station.

The doctor described the supposed illness as a "hemorrhagic fever syndrome" whose symptoms include blisters on the mouth, hemorrhages on the skin, bleeding from the mouth and nose, liver and kidney failure, and breathing difficulty, and whose cause of death is "disseminated intravascular coagulation."

But the governor said Sarmiento's remarks are part of a "terrorist matrix that has a basic purpose, which is to create alarm, anguish in Aragua's population."

El Aissami said the eight patients died of different causes, none of which involved febrile hemorrhages, as Sarmiento had indicated.

"What you are is a criminal, who, irresponsibly using your status as a doctor, launched this campaign without finding out the facts, without investigating, and in these last few hours you've caused terrible anguish among the people of Aragua," the governor said in remarks directed as Sarmiento.

The governor, a member of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, or PSUV, said he will ask the Attorney General's Office to investigate Sarmiento over "this criminal and terrorist act" in Aragua.

His action is part of a "terrorist" campaign and an offshoot of the wave of anti-government protests launched in February.

The governor provided details on six of the eight deaths, saying one of the individuals died of poisoning, while three others perished due to hypovolemic shock, cancer and skin infections.

Autopsies showed that a 12-year-old boy died of leukemia and a 64-year-old man succumbed to diabetes, he added.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, however, expressed support for Sarmiento on Twitter, saying he was being "persecuted by the regime" and demanding "immediate and responsible action by health authorities." EFE