Namibia: Mystery Disease Kills Three

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Namibia: Mystery Disease Kills Three

 

The Namibian (Windhoek)

June 2, 2006

Posted to the web June 2, 2006

 

Christof Maletsky

 

PANIC is sweeping through suburbs north of Katutura after three people died

and 19 others were hospitalised with a disease that still has to be identified.

 

A press release from the Ministry of Health and Social Services last night

indicated that the disease was not confined to the Khomas Region, and that cases

of " undiagnosed paralysis " among adults had been reported in the Otjozondjupa

and Hardap regions.

 

A media briefing is scheduled for this morning to reveal information related

to the outbreak.

 

Well-placed hospital sources confirmed yesterday that two other people were

fighting for their lives in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Windhoek

Central Hospital after contracting the mystery disease.

 

Health personnel revealed that parts of the Katutura and Windhoek Central

Hospital have been declared restricted areas as Government intensifies efforts

to identify the disease and to deal with it.

 

When The Namibian visited the Okahandja Park informal settlement yesterday to

speak to a family who lost a baby, residents confirmed that another child had

died a few hours earlier in Babilon.

 

An emergency meeting took place late yesterday afternoon after health

personnel conducted a quick survey in Okuryangava and Okahandja Park.

 

They were reporting their findings to the Deputy Minister of Health, Petrina

Haingura, and other senior staff members of the Ministry.

 

Health sources said 18 adults and a child were hospitalised at the Katutura

and Windhoek Central hospitals and samples have been sent to South Africa for

analysis.

There were fears that they were all attacked by Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)

- a disorder of the peripheral nervous system.

 

It causes the nerves to inflame, slowing communication to and from the brain.

 

Eventually, the brain is not able to effectively communicate with the

peripheral nerves, causing paralysis.

 

Victims become severely out of breath and unable to perform previously

effortless tasks, such as swallowing.

 

Cramps and body aches often follow.

 

After approximately two weeks, the patient may deteriorate to a condition of

severe paralysis.

 

However, health personnel said the disease appeared not to be Guillain-Barré,

although the symptoms were similar.

 

" We can't say exactly what it is but we also do not want to sound alarm.

 

People must stay calm for now, " said one senior health official.

 

A FATHER'S STORY

Mateus Amupadhi, who lost his 10-month-old baby on Monday, said it all

happened very quickly.

 

" She started crying on Sunday night and we took her to hospital where she got

tablets.

 

She was fine the next morning when I went to work and took medicine.

 

Next thing she started vomiting and we took her back.

 

She died while we were waiting for treatment, " he said.

 

Amupadhi said the baby was not sick before that.

 

He is leaving for the North today to bury the baby.

 

Hilaria Ngolonga, a community activist in Okahandja Park, said she knew of a

man who died on board a bus to the North.

 

" It is very strange.

 

He stopped speaking and his eyes started getting bigger before he died.

 

He was in the bus waiting for its departure to the North, " she said.

 

Another volunteer at the Okahandja Park Bridging Children School said they had

19 children absent yesterday.

 

They were told that some had polio symptoms but will only know today what

exactly was wrong.

 

 

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then is there a possibility of " Balance and Harmony " the goal of Indian

Spirituality. " Dave Chief, Grandfather of Red Dog