Pneumonic plague in the Congo

	Tweet

As of 13 June 2006, World Health Organization (WHO) has received reports of 100 deaths of suspected pneumonic Plague, including 19 deaths in Ituri district, Oriental province.

Suspected cases of bubonic Plague have also been reported but the total number is not known at this time. Preliminary results from rapid diagnostic tests in the area confirm pneumonic Plague. Additional laboratory analysis, including tests by culture, is ongoing on 18 samples.

Ituri is known to be the most active focus of human Plague worldwide, reporting around 1000 cases a year. The first cases in this outbreak occurred in a rural area, in the Zone de Sante’ of Linga, in mid-May.

A team from Me’decins sans Frontie`res (Switzerland), WHO and Ministry of Health has been in the area to assess the situation and provide support to the local health authorities. Isolation wards have been established to treat patients; close contacts are being traced and receiving chemoprophylaxis. However, control measures have been difficult to implement because of security concerns in the area.

http://www.who.int

RELATED STORIES:
Woman with human form of mad cow disease dies in US   Nosespray Vaccine Using Aloe Vera Has Exciting Potential   Pneumonia: Children to miss school   Federal officials warns of epidemic from bird flu virus   S. Sudan disease kills 31; treatment impeded   Yogurt-like drink DanActive reduced rate of common infections in daycare children   UK scientists suggest India may be source of BSE   Studies expose bacterial secret for infecting body   Thai leader orders campaign to wipe out bird flu   Childhood viral infection may be a cause of obesity   N. Carolina firm recalls chicken over listeria fear   Roche’s Tamiflu works against bird flu strain-study

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]