Treyfish
Moderator
<TABLE summary=""><TBODY><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Published Date</TD><TD noWrap align=left>20-OCT-2007</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Subject</TD><TD noWrap align=left>PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever - Sudan: susp., RFI</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
YELLOW FEVER - SUDAN: SUSPECTED, REQUEST FOR INFORMATIONDate: Fri 19 Oct 2007Source: Reuters Foundation AlertNet [edited]<http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19741476.htm>The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday [19 Oct 2007] it was investigating a suspected outbreak of yellow fever in Sudan, which has killed nearly 30 people.The viral disease, which causes jaundice in some patients, is transmitted by mosquitoes but can be confused with malaria, typhoid, viral haemorrhagic fevers, and hepatitis."We have 31 suspect cases including 28 deaths. Samples are being tested, we should know early next week whether it is yellow fever or not," said WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl. The outbreak was near the Nile about 3 hours from Khartoum and the samples were being sent to a laboratory in Cairo for analysis, he said.Yellow fever symptoms include fever, muscle pain, nausea, and vomiting, but most patients improve after 3-4 days, according to the United Nations health agency.Some 15 percent of patients enter a "toxic phase" within 24 hours, with bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes, or stomach as kidney function deteriorates. Half die within 2 weeks. There is no specific treatment -- except for oral rehydration salts and paracetamol -- for the disease, which has caused large epidemics in Africa and the Americas.Intensive care may save the most seriously ill patients, but it is rarely available in the poorest countries. Vaccination is important for rapid control of outbreaks, according to the WHO.--Communicated by
roMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall[Unfortunately, this report does not indicate the exact location where the suspected yellow fever (YF) cases occurred. If it is in South Kordofan, it might be in the same or nearby area where the previous YF virus outbreak took place in 2005. ProMED-mail requests additional information confirming (or not) this outbreak as YF, and if so, about the mosquito vectors involved and emergency control measures being taken to halt virus transmission.Concerning likely vectors, in ProMED-mail archive no. 20051223.3665 Dr. Alan Kemp wrote about YF virus vectors in Sudan, "_Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti_ played a minor role in the 1940 outbreak while _Aedes (Fredwardsius) vittatus_ and _Aedes (Diceromyia) furcifer/ taylori_ (may have included _Ae. (Dic.) cordellieri_, which was described long afterwards) were believed to be responsible for most of the transmissions.Zoomable maps of Sudan can be accessed through the URL of the source of this report, above, and at <http://healthmap.org/promed?v=13.8,30,5>. - Mod.TY]:tiphat: http://tinyurl.com/22udld</PRE>
YELLOW FEVER - SUDAN: SUSPECTED, REQUEST FOR INFORMATIONDate: Fri 19 Oct 2007Source: Reuters Foundation AlertNet [edited]<http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19741476.htm>The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday [19 Oct 2007] it was investigating a suspected outbreak of yellow fever in Sudan, which has killed nearly 30 people.The viral disease, which causes jaundice in some patients, is transmitted by mosquitoes but can be confused with malaria, typhoid, viral haemorrhagic fevers, and hepatitis."We have 31 suspect cases including 28 deaths. Samples are being tested, we should know early next week whether it is yellow fever or not," said WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl. The outbreak was near the Nile about 3 hours from Khartoum and the samples were being sent to a laboratory in Cairo for analysis, he said.Yellow fever symptoms include fever, muscle pain, nausea, and vomiting, but most patients improve after 3-4 days, according to the United Nations health agency.Some 15 percent of patients enter a "toxic phase" within 24 hours, with bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes, or stomach as kidney function deteriorates. Half die within 2 weeks. There is no specific treatment -- except for oral rehydration salts and paracetamol -- for the disease, which has caused large epidemics in Africa and the Americas.Intensive care may save the most seriously ill patients, but it is rarely available in the poorest countries. Vaccination is important for rapid control of outbreaks, according to the WHO.--Communicated by
roMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall[Unfortunately, this report does not indicate the exact location where the suspected yellow fever (YF) cases occurred. If it is in South Kordofan, it might be in the same or nearby area where the previous YF virus outbreak took place in 2005. ProMED-mail requests additional information confirming (or not) this outbreak as YF, and if so, about the mosquito vectors involved and emergency control measures being taken to halt virus transmission.Concerning likely vectors, in ProMED-mail archive no. 20051223.3665 Dr. Alan Kemp wrote about YF virus vectors in Sudan, "_Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti_ played a minor role in the 1940 outbreak while _Aedes (Fredwardsius) vittatus_ and _Aedes (Diceromyia) furcifer/ taylori_ (may have included _Ae. (Dic.) cordellieri_, which was described long afterwards) were believed to be responsible for most of the transmissions.Zoomable maps of Sudan can be accessed through the URL of the source of this report, above, and at <http://healthmap.org/promed?v=13.8,30,5>. - Mod.TY]:tiphat: http://tinyurl.com/22udld</PRE>