# 1107
With the number of emerging infectious diseases around the world, it would be sheer folly to concentrate solely on the H5N1 virus. Sure, right now it has our rapt attention, and it is the leading contender to start the next pandemic, but there are others out there, equally capable of ruining our entire day.
I've written about it before (see It isn't Just Bird Flu). Not only are there other novel strains of influenza circulating out there, there are recently discovered diseases like Hendra and Nipah, and old favorites like XDR-TB to worry about. Over the past 3 decades more than 30 new diseases, mostly zoonotic, have emerged on the scene.
And of course, there's always the one we don't know about yet. Virus X. As man encroaches deeper into wild jungles and swamps, building, farming, or hunting, he increases his exposure to previously unknown diseases.
On Thursday Scott McPherson's blog Heart of Darkness brought us early reports of a devastating fever sweeping the Congo that had claimed as many as 100 lives. Given the early reports, and location, Marburg or Ebola were suspected.
Yesterday Crof updated this report, with new details from a BBC report. Of particular interest is the report that pigs and chickens began dying first, then the human infections began. Coincidence? Perhaps.
The WHO (World Health Organization) has posted the following information on their Web Site.
Unknown illness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
31 August 2007
An outbreak of an unknown illness with a high mortality has been reported from the province of Kasai Occidental, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The exact number of cases and deaths is unknown at this time. The clinical features in the majority of cases include fever, headache, diarrhoea or colicky abdominal pain, and vomiting. Over 50% of cases have been in children under 10 years of age.
An investigation team from the Provincial and National Health Ministries, the Institut National de Recherches Biologiques (INRB) and WHO is in the field, and has taken clinical samples for laboratory testing. WHO is mobilizing support for the epidemiological investigation and logistics, including supplies, and water and sanitation and technical partners in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) have offered to provide support to the MoH if required.
At the present time, the etiological agent is unknown but the national health authorities have taken a precautionary approach and are implementing measures to improve hygiene, ensure the safety of the water supply, promote safe burial practices and strengthen infection control.
Early reports of disease outbreaks, particularly from remote areas, often turn out to be incomplete or inaccurate. It is notable that there is no mention of hemorrhage, a hallmark of Ebola and Marburg, as one of the symptoms in this WHO release.
It is difficult, therefore, to draw any conclusions. It may simply be an incomplete report, or perhaps something new is brewing in the Congo.
Time will tell.
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