Seven Dead as Strange Disease Hits Kondoa District

Seven people have died with 21 others admitted at Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital and Kondoa District Hospital after a strange disease hit Chemba and Kondoa districts. Minister of Health, Social Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu gave a statement yesterday saying victims samples has been collected and it's currently being tested in laboratory to determine what type of disease this is, results are expected to be out by Monday or Tuesday of this week.

“We have sent samples of the patients including blood, stool, vomit fluids and liver to the national laboratory, the Chief Government Chemist and Kilimanjaro Christian Research Institute (KCRI) for laboratory testing,” Ms Mwalimu said. 

Moreover the minister insisted that victims are responding well to treatment except for two children who are in critical condition; refuting the currently report going through social media that victims are all getting worse. She also further explained that the initial laboratory test have proven the disease is not 'yellow fever' so the expertise are still trying to identify other diseases such as Rift Valley Fever.

“Initial tests at the national laboratory have as well proved that the strange disease is not Yellow Fever. Laboratory technicians are still working to identify other diseases such as Rift Valley Fever (RVF),” 

However Ms Mwalimu said they are expecting further results from the Chief Government Chemist tomorrow (Tuesday) but so far the patients are isolated and they are confident the disease is not contagious. "So far, much as the patients are isolated, we are highly confident that the disease is not contagious". 

According to her the disease could be Aflatoxins which is toxic compounds that are produced by certain moulds found in food and can lead to liver cancer. Poor preservation of food crops causes Aflatoxins therefore samples of cereals, including maize, sorghum and millet have been sent to Tanzanis Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) and the Chief Givernment Chemist for testing, results are expected today (Monday). 

Meanwhile the government in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) and United States Center For Disease Control (CDC) are doing all they can to contain the disease and reduce the number of victims. 

The mysterious disease was firstly detected on June 13, 2016 in Chemba where it affected a family of nine people in Mwaikisabe Village thereafter it spread to the surrounding areas including Kondoa. The main symptoms of the disease are vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach ache leading to swelling of abdomen after being filled with water and parts of body including eyes turning yellow. 

“The patients neither experience high temperatures nor skin rashes and it affects all people, including adults and children,” she explained. According to Ms Mwalimu, it is believed that the first people to contract the disease ate cow meat that had been slaughtered with one of its limbs fractured.

Source: Daily News