Possible Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak in Africa; Three Dead

The Associated Press and BuaNews report that three people are dead in South Africa, due to what is right now a mystery disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) suspects that it may be a strain of hemorrhagic fever.

Test results from the South Africa incident conclude negative for Ebola, Rift Valley fever, Lassa fever, Marburg fever, and some of the other main types of hemorrhagic fever. WHO is expected to receive further testing results on or before Sunday October 12. The CDC and WHO are working together to combine resources and assess the situation.

All three deaths are tied to Johannesburg, South Africa. The first death occurred on September 13 and involved a tourist guide that first showed signs of being ill in Zambia. The woman was then evacuated to South Africa. The following two deaths occurred in both the nurse and paramedic that treated the ill woman, who also later returned to Johannesburg, South Africa. There are 121 more people being monitored for signs of the disease.

The government of South Africa is urging the public not to panic about the possible hemorrhagic fever, as the CDC and WHO are very experienced in these matters and are diligently working toward a conclusion and resolution, be the disease hemorrhagic fever or something else.

According to the CDC, symptoms of viral hemorrhagic fever can vary depending on the strain. However, some of the main symptoms include dizziness, marked fever, muscle aches, fatigue and exhaustion, and weakness or loss of strength. In sever cases of viral hemorrhagic fever, patients can also experience other symptoms such as bleeding underneath the skin, inside organs, or from external orifices like the eyes, ears, and mouth.

Even though the bleeding occurs in sever cases, the cause of death from viral hemorrhagic fever is not often related to blood loss. Patients with viral hemorrhagic fever can also experience seizures, go into shock, experience delirium, go into a coma, experience nervous system malfunctions, and even experience renal kidney failure.

Sources:

Google/AP
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hR6XdEKPqf7oufZw33pgvmimK5jgD93NISF80

CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/Spb/mnpages/dispages/vhf.htm

BuaNews
http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/08/08100912451002