Published Date: 2002-08-24 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths - Madagascar (Fianarantsoa) (09)
Archive Number: 20020824.5128
UNDIAGNOSED DEATHS - MADAGASCAR (FIANARANTSOA) (09)
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Sat 24 Aug 2002
From: Marianne Hopp <mjhopp12@yahoo.com>
Source: World Health Organisation (WHO), Disease Outbreaks Report, Fri 23
Aug 2002 [edited]
<http://www.who.int/disease-outbreak-news/n2002/august/23august2002.html>
Influenza in Madagascar - WHO Update 4
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As of Thu 22 Aug 2002, the outbreak has extended to 5 out of 6 provinces in
Madagascar, the exception being Antsiranana province in the north-east of
the country. The total number of reported cases is 22 646 with 671 deaths.
The most affected province is Fianarantsoa with 18 808 cases and 556 deaths.
The increase in numbers may be due, in part, to a standard case definition
established by the Ministry of Health now being applied to all districts.The
international team from the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network is
working with mobile teams from the Ministry of Health investigating these
cases and collecting samples.
To date, influenza A(H3N2) viruses have been isolated. Preliminary findings
indicate that the high mortality rates may be attributable in part to the
lack of access to health care and to very poor nutrition in the affected
districts. Along with the Ministry of Health, the WHO country office has
been working with UNICEF and the World Food Programme to provide
protein-enriched foods as soon as possible and to establish nutritional
education centres.
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