Epidemic in Reunion
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Epidemic in Reunion
Crippling disease sweeps Indian Ocean island
4HP
Doctors on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion are battling an epidemic of a crippling mosquito-borne disease that has no known cure, French Health Minister Xavier Bertrand said. About 7,200 cases of "chikungunya" had been recorded, including 1,600 cases last week alone, the minister told the French upper house. "It is a major public-health issue," he told senators. Chikungunya is Swahili for "that which bends up" and refers to the stooped posture of those afflicted by the non-fatal disease for which there is no known vaccine or cure. Authorities on the volcanic island east of Madagascar, a French overseas department with a population of 760,000, have earmarked 600,000 euros (720,000 dollars) to fight the outbreak, including special mosquito-eradication brigades.
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What cures have been tried ?
One wonders what malaria cures were tried ?
A fellow crew-member had his malaria sorted out within days in Kinshasa by a UN-doctor who prescribed "Coartem 20/120 mg , a Novartis product , which contains Artemether & Lumefantrine.
Obviously other doctors will try out all the other medicines too.
In S.Africa a GP still prefers using "Halfan ".
Sorry for the commercial names 4HolerPoler, but when people are deadly sick there often is little time left for them & this news may just save a life or 2.
So each to his own.
Good luck to those who contract this horrible strain !
A fellow crew-member had his malaria sorted out within days in Kinshasa by a UN-doctor who prescribed "Coartem 20/120 mg , a Novartis product , which contains Artemether & Lumefantrine.
Obviously other doctors will try out all the other medicines too.
In S.Africa a GP still prefers using "Halfan ".
Sorry for the commercial names 4HolerPoler, but when people are deadly sick there often is little time left for them & this news may just save a life or 2.
So each to his own.
Good luck to those who contract this horrible strain !
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If the local medical authorities reckon there's no known cure, I'm pretty certain they've already gone the malaria cure route and failed. It's non fatal so not life threatening as such. It does appear to be somewhat disfiguring, though.
Good luck to them.
Good luck to them.
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Indian Ocean girds for spread of incurable crippling disease
Certainly something else to worry about.
4HP
Indian Ocean girds for spread of incurable crippling disease
Nearly 2,000 people in the Seychelles have been infected with an incurable mosquito-borne disease that has spread to three Indian Ocean islands prompting health alerts, officials said. Jules Gedeon, the Seychelles director for community health, said the number of people diagnosed with "chikungunya" was steadily rising since it was first reported in November and nearly 1,000 cases had been reported in January alone. "We are still counting, but the number is quickly approaching 1,000 for this week," Gedeon told AFP, adding the country's security forces had been drafted for a nationwide mosquito eradication drive to stall the spread. In addition, the health ministry announced Thursday it would take legal action against people who do not take measures to control mosquito breeding on their property.
Authorities in Madagascar and the overseas French territory of Reunion, where some 45,000 new cases have been reported since mid-December, have reported outbreaks. Last week, the French government drafted 400 extra troops to help fight the mosquitoes that have been spreading the disease across Reunion since March. On Madagascar, about 800 kilometers (500 miles) west of Reunion, a health official said Thursday that two more people had shown symptoms of the disease after dozens flocked to a hospital on the eastern side of the island with similar complaints in the past two weeks. "Two patients admitted today at Toamasina hospital they had joint pains that strongly point at chikungunya," Mosa Milasoa, an official in Madagascar's health ministry, told AFP.
"Chikungunya" is Swahili for "that which bends up" and refers to the stooped posture of those afflicted by the crippling and extremely painful disease for which there is no known vaccine or cure. It is characterized by high fever and severe rashes, and while non-fatal in itself and most people eventually recover, it can provide opportunities for other diseases to set in. Health officials in the Seychelles attributed the recent sharp rise in cases of chikungunya to heavy rains that have been pounding the island since December. No deaths have so far been reported, but it has affected several businesses as infected people have stayed home from work and the transport sector has been badly hit with bus schedules interrupted as drivers fall sick, they said.
Authorities in Madagascar and the overseas French territory of Reunion, where some 45,000 new cases have been reported since mid-December, have reported outbreaks. Last week, the French government drafted 400 extra troops to help fight the mosquitoes that have been spreading the disease across Reunion since March. On Madagascar, about 800 kilometers (500 miles) west of Reunion, a health official said Thursday that two more people had shown symptoms of the disease after dozens flocked to a hospital on the eastern side of the island with similar complaints in the past two weeks. "Two patients admitted today at Toamasina hospital they had joint pains that strongly point at chikungunya," Mosa Milasoa, an official in Madagascar's health ministry, told AFP.
"Chikungunya" is Swahili for "that which bends up" and refers to the stooped posture of those afflicted by the crippling and extremely painful disease for which there is no known vaccine or cure. It is characterized by high fever and severe rashes, and while non-fatal in itself and most people eventually recover, it can provide opportunities for other diseases to set in. Health officials in the Seychelles attributed the recent sharp rise in cases of chikungunya to heavy rains that have been pounding the island since December. No deaths have so far been reported, but it has affected several businesses as infected people have stayed home from work and the transport sector has been badly hit with bus schedules interrupted as drivers fall sick, they said.
4HP
Está servira para distraerle.
Yes indeed, the Seychelles' rains have been excessive this year.
I know a man who has the disease. It usually lasts about four days but it can, malaria like, regurgitate itself.
Might help keep the tourists down though!
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Developing story:
Epidemic kills 50 in Reunion
The deaths of 52 people in the French overseas territory of Reunion have been linked to an epidemic of an incurable crippling mosquito-borne disease called Chikungunya, the French National Health Agency (INVS) said on Friday at the capital of Saint Denis de la Reunion. According to Philippe Quenel, an epidemiologist at the INVS, more than 110 000 people have been affected by the disease since the epidemic broke out on the Indian Ocean island in March 2005, 22 000 of them over the past week.
"Fifty-two certificates of death citing chikungunya have been submitted," Quenel added. The French government has sent several hundred soldiers to the island to assist in the eradication of the mosquitoes that spread the illness, which has crippled tourism on Reunion.
Chikungunya is Swahili for "that which bends up" and refers to the stooped posture of those afflicted by the crippling and extremely painful disease, for which there is no known vaccine or cure. The illness is characterised by high fever and severe rashes. While it is usually non-fatal in itself and most people eventually recover, it can provide opportunities for other diseases to set in.
The deaths of 52 people in the French overseas territory of Reunion have been linked to an epidemic of an incurable crippling mosquito-borne disease called Chikungunya, the French National Health Agency (INVS) said on Friday at the capital of Saint Denis de la Reunion. According to Philippe Quenel, an epidemiologist at the INVS, more than 110 000 people have been affected by the disease since the epidemic broke out on the Indian Ocean island in March 2005, 22 000 of them over the past week.
"Fifty-two certificates of death citing chikungunya have been submitted," Quenel added. The French government has sent several hundred soldiers to the island to assist in the eradication of the mosquitoes that spread the illness, which has crippled tourism on Reunion. Chikungunya is Swahili for "that which bends up" and refers to the stooped posture of those afflicted by the crippling and extremely painful disease, for which there is no known vaccine or cure. The illness is characterised by high fever and severe rashes. While it is usually non-fatal in itself and most people eventually recover, it can provide opportunities for other diseases to set in.
