Virus baffles officials

FIVE people have died and at least 17 others have been hospitalised as Namibia and the Geneva-based World Health Organisation (WHO) try to identify the mystery virus affecting people.

One of the 17 people, a pregnant mother, is on a ventilator in Windhoek Central Hospital’s acute care unit, according to Dr Helen Kandi-Shiimi, Senior Medical Superintendent of that hospital. The others were in a stable condition in Ward 5A yesterday.On Friday, Health Deputy Minister Petrina Haingura called for calm and said the Government was in contact with WHO head office in Geneva as the wait for the results of stool, urine and blood specimens send to South Africa continued.FIRST CASE NOTED IN MAYVictims typically suffer from lower-limb weaknesses, acute paralysis, breathing difficulties, chest pain, cold and flu, neck stiffness, headache and dizziness.”All patients are isolated and movement of visitors will be limited to avoid further potential spread of the illness to others,” said Haingura.The first case was reported on May 7 at the southern town of Aranos.The person was still alive yesterday but remains on ventilator support.The last patient admitted was on Thursday night, Kandi-Shiimi told The Namibian yesterday.It was confirmed later yesterday that more people had been admitted to the Windhoek Central Hospital.However, Maggy Nghatanga, Director of Primary Health Care, said they were unable to confirm the number of new cases.She noted that they were working with municipalities where cases had been reported to conduct tests on water.”Every possible action, in terms of investigation, is being taken,” she added.”We need to call in other countries for help when we have identified something but we are in touch with WHO and Geneva has been informed,” Nghatanga said.Haingura said patients were aged between 14 and 55 years.They expect the results from South Africa by Wednesday.The health officials said they were looking for anything to lay their hands on as they search for answers to the mystery.Dr Flavia Mugala said it was critical to keep the patients alive while investigations on the disease continued.Health Deputy Minister Haingura said special teams had been dispatched to affected communities to trace the origins of the disease.She called on the nation to stay calm and to report sudden weaknesses immediately.Deputy Permanent Secretary Simwansa Simenda ruled out the possibility that any of the patients had contracted the virus while travelling.He said most had not travelled recently.Apart from Aranos, cases have been reported in suburbs north of Katutura and at Otjiwarongo.Initially, there were fears that they had contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) – a disorder of the peripheral nervous system.However, the Ministry of Health conducted tests which indicated that it was something else.Polio was also ruled out.Haingura said the Ministry of Health was mobilising the necessary financial, human, technical and material resources from inside and outside Namibia to address the situation.The others were in a stable condition in Ward 5A yesterday.On Friday, Health Deputy Minister Petrina Haingura called for calm and said the Government was in contact with WHO head office in Geneva as the wait for the results of stool, urine and blood specimens send to South Africa continued.FIRST CASE NOTED IN MAY Victims typically suffer from lower-limb weaknesses, acute paralysis, breathing difficulties, chest pain, cold and flu, neck stiffness, headache and dizziness.”All patients are isolated and movement of visitors will be limited to avoid further potential spread of the illness to others,” said Haingura.The first case was reported on May 7 at the southern town of Aranos.The person was still alive yesterday but remains on ventilator support.The last patient admitted was on Thursday night, Kandi-Shiimi told The Namibian yesterday.It was confirmed later yesterday that more people had been admitted to the Windhoek Central Hospital.However, Maggy Nghatanga, Director of Primary Health Care, said they were unable to confirm the number of new cases.She noted that they were working with municipalities where cases had been reported to conduct tests on water.”Every possible action, in terms of investigation, is being taken,” she added. “We need to call in other countries for help when we have identified something but we are in touch with WHO and Geneva has been informed,” Nghatanga said.Haingura said patients were aged between 14 and 55 years.They expect the results from South Africa by Wednesday.The health officials said they were looking for anything to lay their hands on as they search for answers to the mystery.Dr Flavia Mugala said it was critical to keep the patients alive while investigations on the disease continued.Health Deputy Minister Haingura said special teams had been dispatched to affected communities to trace the origins of the disease.She called on the nation to stay calm and to report sudden weaknesses immediately.Deputy Permanent Secretary Simwansa Simenda ruled out the possibility that any of the patients had contracted the virus while travelling.He said most had not travelled recently.Apart from Aranos, cases have been reported in suburbs north of Katutura and at Otjiwarongo.Initially, there were fears that they had contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) – a disorder of the peripheral nervous system.However, the Ministry of Health conducted tests which indicated that it was something else.Polio was also ruled out.Haingura said the Ministry of Health was mobilising the necessary financial, human, technical and material resources from inside and outside Namibia to address the situation.