Mysterious Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak Stumps Disease Detectives

[inanna]

Source: NPR

May 31, 2016 4:17 PM ET

The last time, we heard about a "mysterious hemorrhagic fever" in a country, it was February 2014. The outbreak was in Guinea. And by the time doctors had pinpointed the culprit, Ebola was spiraling out of control in West Africa.

The situation in South Sudan today is a far cry from that in West Africa a few years ago. But it's still concerning, the World Health Organization said.

So far, there have been 51 cases — including 10 deaths — from an unknown disease in the northern part of South Sudan. The main symptoms of the disease are similar to those seen with Ebola: unexplained bleeding, fever, fatigue, headache and vomiting.

But the culprit definitely isn't Ebola.


Read more: http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/05/31/480150707/mysterious-hemorrhagic-fever-outbreak-stumps-disease-detectives

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Link to WHO report from May 19, 2016:

Haemorrhagic fever syndrome – South Sudan

Between late December 2015 and early May 2016, the National IHR Focal of South Sudan notified WHO of an outbreak of haemorrhagic fever syndrome.

As of 9 May, a total of 51 suspected cases, including 10 deaths, had been reported from the counties of Aweil North (45 cases, including 10 deaths) and Aweil West (6 cases). No health care workers had been reported among the cases. The majority (74.5%) of the suspected cases are below 20 years of age. The last recorded death dates back to 28 February.

The most frequent symptoms include unexplained bleeding, fever, fatigue, headache and vomiting. The symptoms do not seem to be severe and rapidly resolve following supportive treatment. Currently, there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of the disease.

[LiberalArkie]

1. Crap, all we need are some soldiers or contractors to bring it back.

[Laffy Kat]

6. The article said it doesn't seem to be infectious person-to-person.

At least by what they know at this point.

[tonyt53]

2. Zika is nothing compared to this stuff.

[uppityperson]

3. How odd. 10 deaths of 50 yet " The symptoms do not seem to be severe and rapidly resolve following s

" The symptoms do not seem to be severe and rapidly resolve following supportive treatment."

[herding cats]

5. My best guess was a lack of medical care until it was too far gone.

The 10 fatalities could have been in regions where they didn't have access to a medical facility, or they could have been afraid of being quarantined?

[herding cats]

4. Yet another possible reason to hate mosquitos.

A few bacteria can also cause internal bleeding and organ failure, Chiu wrote. "But if I had to guess, I would think an undiagnosed mosquito- or tick-borne viral illness [is causing the outbreak in South Sudan]," Chiu wrote.

[Marrah_G]

7. Most of these end up being related to bush meat

The more people are in contact with the wildlife the more chances there are for a virus to cross.

[cannabis_flower]

8. Could be

maybe - Lassa Fever


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lassa_fever