Re: Unbekanntes Virus: 150 Tote auf Madagaskar in zwei Wochen
Geschrieben von IT Oma am 04. August 2002 22:59:04:
Als Antwort auf: Unbekanntes Virus: 150 Tote auf Madagaskar in zwei Wochen geschrieben von Johannes am 04. August 2002 22:40:49:
Hallo, die englische Yahoo-Meldung ist ausführlicher: es scheint so eine Art Grippe zu sein, die Symptome sind ähnlich und es reagiert auch auf die klassischen Grippemittel. Unbehandelt allerdings tödlich nach 14 Tagen.
Friday August 2, 6:55 AM
Death toll from mystery virus rises to 153 in Madagascar
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The death toll in the Indian Ocean nation of Madagascar from a mystery viral infection has reached 153 and will continue to climb, Health Minister Andry Rasamindrakotroka said.Experts have been baffled so far by the viral infection, which leaves its sufferers with flu-like symptoms that lead to death within two weeks, and has emerged in the southeast of the country.
The minister said that 62 people alone had died in the southeastern village of Ikongo, around 500 kiolmetres (300 miles) from the capital, Antananarivo.
On Thursday he announced that 89 people had died in the Alakamisy Ambohimaha region, and that at least two more people had perished in Ikongo. Rasamindrakotroka stressed that the figures were still coming in.
Those stricken with the illness are hit with a barrage of flu-like symptoms which usually seem to begin with a severe headache.
The pain then spreads to the neck and chest and provokes a dry cough which results in death in a fortnight if left untreated -- while many are surviving by being treated with classic anti-flu medications.
Doctors specialising in contagious diseases and members of the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar are at work trying to determine the cause of the outbreak.
Rasamindrakotroka said that 60 of the first 62 victims announced had died because they were unable to reach a hospital or health dispensary in time.
A local journalist in the town of Fianarantsoa told AFP that the disease could claim more victims because sufferers often think they have caught simply a heavy cold and try to treat the illness with traditional herbal remedies.
The health minister issued an appeal on television and radio for the ill to seek treatment at a medical centre as soon as they show the first symptoms of the disease.
The health minister also confirmed a statement made last week by President Marc Ravalomanana to say that health care would be administered free of charge in the poor Indian Ocean island's hospitals until further notice.
The crisis is the latest for the island, which emerged last month from a long, economically debilitating and sometimes violent power struggle between Ravalomanana and his predecessor, Didier Ratsiraka, who eventually fled.
Gruß ITOma