AFRO-NETS> Traveling in Asia - watch out for that mystery illness

[A Outola a <chpss_abo@yahoo.com>]

Traveling in Asia - watch out for that mystery illness
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Datelinehealth-Africa News Service
03/18/03

Africans and people across any ethnic colorations travelling in Asia 
better be aware of a mystery illness as health officials worldwide 
"advise persons planning nonessential or elective travel to Asia to 
consider postponing their trip until further notice." 

The World Health Organization has issued a rare health alert as a 
mysterious respiratory illness spread across countries, declaring the 
ailment "a worldwide health threat" (WHO Press release, 03/15/03. 
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2003/pr23/en/).

The organisation said that it had received reports of more than 150 
new suspected cases of the illness, now known as Severe Acute Respi-
ratory Syndrome, SARS (or simply atypical pneumonia) in the last 
week. The illness has so far caused at least nine deaths, the last 
one a nurse in Hanoi, Vietnam. Almost all victims have either appar-
ently passed through Hong Kong or come in close contact with persons 
that have passed through this country. The illness does not respond 
to antiviral and antibiotic drugs.

Although no reports have come from Africa, reported cases have come 
from other countries with high public health surveillance and report-
ing systems like Canada and six countries in Asia - Hong Kong, China, 
Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, the 
health organization said. 

The cause of the mystery respiratory illness has not been identified, 
and scientists do not know whether it is a virus or another infec-
tious agent. 

Avian influenza, which has infected a small number of people sporadi-
cally in Hong Kong since 1997, is suspected, but laboratory tests 
have not detected that rare strain, known as influenza A (H5N1). As a 
result, laboratory scientists are focusing on the possibility of a 
previously unknown infectious agent. Mycoplasma or similar fungal mi-
crobes, Ebola and other viruses that cause hemorrhagic fevers, have 
not been implicated. 

Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, di-
rector of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, 
USA, said that it appeared to take direct and sustained contact to 
transmit the illness from an affected individual to other people. 
"There is no evidence to suggest that this can be spread through 
brief contact or assemblages of large numbers of people," she said.

Asked whether the mystery illness might be an instance of bioterror-
ism, she replied, "We are keeping an open mind."

The W.H.O. is urging all travellers to be aware of the main signs, 
which may manifest as breathing problems, dry cough and other flulike 
symptoms that may develop two to seven days after exposure. Symptoms 
start with a sudden onset of high fever (> 38 oC) and go on to in-
clude muscle aches, headache, sore throat and shortness of breath.

Standard lab tests often show low numbers of white blood cells and 
platelets, which help blood to clot.

The health agency advises any traveler in Asia or airline crew member 
who developed such symptoms to seek medical attention immediately and 
ensure that information about their recent travel is passed on to 
health care personnel. "Any traveler who develops these symptoms is 
advised not to undertake further travel until they have recovered," 
it said.

If a passenger became ill on a flight, the agency asked airlines to 
alert the airport of destination and to refer any ill passengers to 
airport health officials.

Updated information on this mystery illness can be obtained from the 
WHO Web site, at: http://www.who.int


A. Odutola
Centre for Health Policy & Strategic Studies (CHPSS)
Lagos, Nigeria
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com

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