Re: Zimbabwe: Family reports that MDC-T senator died of bird flu - conflicting reports
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Published Date: 2012-01-01 12:54:35
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (77): Zimbabwe, NOT
Archive Number: 20120101.0002
AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (77): ZIMBABWE, NOT
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Sat 31 Dec 2011Source: The Standard, Zimbabwe [edited]http://www.thestandard.co.zw/local/33327-madzorera-denies-bird-flu-death.html
Health and Child Welfare Minister denies bird flu death
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Mystery surrounds the cause of death of MDC-T [Movement for a
Democratic Change - Tsvangirai] legislator. News reports said that the
senator had died of avian influenza or bird flu, but health expects
deny there any cases of the disease in the country. Health and Child
Welfare Minister Henry Madzorera said the government had not raised
any alerts of an outbreak of the disease as they had not received
reports of a possible epidemic. “The Epidemics and Disease Control
centre has not informed me about any outbreak, but they are closed and
we can only know that after the holidays,” he said. Madzorera said
he could not comment further as he had not received any news of an
outbreak.
Officials from the Health Ministry also revealed that there were no
known cases of the virus in Zimbabwe or in the region. They said it
was highly unlikely that there could have been an outbreak in the
country. The only recently recorded cases, the officials said, were
reported in Hong Kong and a spread to Zimbabwe at this stage was
highly improbable.
But the family of the late senator insist that post-mortem results had
indicated that the deceased senator had been afflicted with the deadly
avian virus. The Standard could not have access to the post-mortem
report. To add to the mystery, a Kadoma doctor reportedly declined to
carry out a postmortem and instead referred the family to a hospital
in Harare. “We were told that she had a swelling in her stomach
because there was water in her lungs, but this did not make sense to
us,” an informed source said. The source said before her death, the
senator was down with influenza, she however developed an unnamed
infection in her chest.
In the past Zimbabwe’s health systems have been reported to be
incapable of handling epidemics such as bird and swine flu. In 2010 it
was reported that some children in Tsholotsho were affected by swine
flu. However, results on whether it was actually swine flu were
inconclusive.
(By Nqaba Matshazi)
--
Communicated by:
ProMEd-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall
[As inferred in the previous post,
there is no evidence, other than an
inconclusive autopsy report, to establish the cause of death of the
Zimbabwean senator. While avian A/(H5N1) virus infection cannot be
excluded, in the absence of any laboratory investigation there is
nothng to support this diagnosis, particularly as the disease has not
been reported in Zimbabwean poultry. - Mod.CP.
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at:
http://healthmap.org/r/1AY4]
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The previous post:
www.promedmail.org
Published Date: 2011-12-31 17:44:36
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (76): Zimbabwe, human susp.
Archive Number: 20111231.3715
AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (76): ZIMBABWE, HUMAN SUSPECTED
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A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Fri 30 Dec 2011Source: Daily News, Nehanda Radio, Zimbabwe [edited]http://nehandaradio.com/2011/12/30/mdc-t-senator-died-of-bird-flu/
Senator died of bird flu
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BULAWAYO: The woman mainstream MDC-T [Movement for Democratic Change
– Tsvangirai] senator for Mabutweni has died of bird flu, a family
spokesperson told journalists at her house in Mpopoma high density
suburb [of Bulawayo] on Wednesday [28 Dec 2011]. A family spokesperson
Samuel Gombami who is brother to the senator's husband said that
postmortem results released on Tuesday in Harare shows that she died
of bird flu.
“We were finally given postmortem results and they show that she was
taken away by bird flu. We still can’t believe this as a family, we
are in still shock,” said a relative. Bird flu also known as avian
influenza is a contagious disease of birds, caused by avian influenza
(A) virus. The outbreak of avian influenza of most concern began in
poultry in South Korea in mid-December 2003. The Mabutweni senator was
buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo. Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai and dozens of MPs and senators attended the funeral.The
48-year-old senator died after complaining of disorientation and
dizziness while travelling home to Bulawayo from a funeral in Gokwe on
Boxing Day. She was rushed to a hospital in Kadoma where she died.
[cut]
(By Pindai Dube)
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall
[This report was also relayed to ProMED-mail by Nati Elkin
whose assistance is welcomed. Confirmation of
the initial diagnosis of avian influenza is awaited.
The description
of the victim's condition on admission to hospital is not sufficiently
specific to confirm the dignosis of influenza virus infection on
symptoms alone. Laboratory confirmation that the death of the patient
was the result of avian A/(H5N1) influenza virus infection is
necessary.
Likewise information on the prevalence of avian influenza virus in
wild birds or poultry in the Bulawayo area is lacking, as is
iformation on the extent of the victim's possible contact with
diseased birds. Zimbabwe is not among the 15 countries that have
reported human cases of avian A (H5N1) influenza virus infection in
the past.
The location of Bulawayo ca be found by accessing the the HealthMap
interactive map of Zimbabwe at:
http://healthmap.org/r/1AY4. -
Mod.CP]]
