from Charles Mkula 5:32 am
date Jul 23, 2009 5:32 AM
subject US sends five outbreak specialists to investigate Malawi mysterious outbreak

US sends five outbreak specialists to investigate Malawi mysterious outbreak

By Charles Mkula

Lilongwe. The United States Government, through the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC), flown into Malawi five outbreak specialists to
work in Neno District, where an undiagnosed disease outbreak which has
so far killed 17 people since May.

Alison Liwanda, US Embassy Information Assistant said the specialists
are experts in environmental health and neurology and are working with
the Neno District Health Office to conduct a full investigation on the
outbreak.

The disease has affected 95 persons in the district in Malawi and 38
in neighbouring Tsangano District in Mozambique. Of the 17 deaths
reported nine have occured in Malawi, and eight in Mozambique.

According to eye witnesses, affected persons display unusual symptoms
with neurological complications. Patients admitted to hospital have
been treated with antibiotics and given supportive care including
rehydration.

The Malawi government earlier in the month sent blood samples for
initial laboratory and radiology examinations to South Africa, and
Zimbabwe but the results were not indicative of any specific illness.

New samples have now been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) in the USA for analysis, said Liwanda.

The Government of Malawi formally requested Epidemiological Aid
assistance from United States Government on July 15. Typically, the
CDC’s official response includes specialists in the relevant health
fields working with host country health officials to deal with
epidemiological investigation, diagnosis and laboratory support,
treatment and containment of the outbreak. The CDC works
collaboratively with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other
partners in country.