Mysterious disease keeps Health Department on alert
A disease called idiopathic hemorrhagic pneumonia (IHP), of as yet unknown etiology, has caused the deaths of 7 persons in the state of Rio Grande do Norte in northeastern Brazil. The State Department of Health is investigating the etiology of the disease, which affects the lungs, but they haven’t yet determined whether it is viral or bacterial and how contagion occurs.
Although no case has been reported in the neighboring state of Ceara, the Ceara State Department of Health is monitoring the situation due to the proximity of the 2 states.
‘’‘The most common symptoms in patients with IHP are respiratory distress, bleeding of the airways and fever. Of 9 suspect patients in 9 different cities of the state, 6 children and a 5-months-pregnant woman, aged 32, have died. Two children are in critical condition.’‘’
The set of symptoms has been named idiopathic hemorrhagic pneumonia due to its unknown origin. According to the Department of Health, no epidemiological link was established between the patients, therefore, there was no transmission between them.
About 78 percent of the patients had a chronic condition, like asthma, metabolic disorder, epilepsy and sickle cell anemia.
The median age was 3 years, and 56 percent of the patients were male. The cities where cases have occurred are: Boa Saude, Canguaretama, Ceara Mirim, Galinhos, Natal, Parnamirim, Sao Goncalo do Amarante, Sao Tome and Taipu.
The 1st case of IHP was identified on 10 Mar 2006. From this date, the State Department of Health has identified 24 suspect cases, 15 having been discarded as other diagnosis were confirmed.
Nine cases are still under investigation, the 6 children and the pregnant woman that died as well as the 2 children still hospitalized.
— ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
[I am at the airport waiting for the plane to take me to Rio Grande do Norte. Tomorrow, I shall have a meeting with the staff of the State Health Department. As far as I could understand from data sent to me, ‘’‘the cases seem to be severe cases of influenza (or maybe another viral pathogen, but I favor influenza)’‘’. There is a respiratory disease epidemic of large proportions ongoing at the moment. The autopsy reports reveal severe viral pneumonia, some clearly with bacterial superinfection. The preexisting morbidity of the deceased patients favors this hypothesis, a pregnant woman, a child with sickle cell anemia, a child with asthma and another with a metabolic disorder; I have no idea what this disorder could be. As soon as I have better data, I’ll file a report - Mod.LJS] ………………mpp/lm/ljs/lm/msp/lm
Source: http://tinyurl.com/s75qc
Gack. Now I’ve stretched the page.
What next???
I should point out that the first of these cases took place on March 10th, so it’s not like we’re dealing with a large-scale outbreak of whatver this is.
Also, Brazil (and all of South America, for that matter) has not confirmed or even suspected H5N1 to be within its borders.
However, migratory birds do pass from Africa to South America, if I recall correctly. According to “Vaffie” on CurEvents (who first posted this, I might add), there are only 3 strains of influenza that cause hemorrhaging. If this is influenza as the author of the story suggests, then it’s either H5N1, the pandemic varient of H1N1 or possibly H7N7. Either that, or this is an entirely different influenza strain that’s mutated to allow for such symptoms. Unfortunately, I don’t know any more than what I’ve posted so far.
By the way, thanks for correcting my page-stretching blunder, pogge.
Shouldn’t this be reported on the News of the Day page?
This could also be something entirely unrelated to influenza.
BroncoBill – at 00:39 In hindsight, probably.
Cygnet – at 00:39 Entirely true, cygnet. I just posted it here to see if anybody might have more information. There was an outbreak of a virulent strain of H3N2 (or something along those lines) in Guatemala City a while back. Perhaps this is an extension of that. There’s also mention made of a large-scale epidemic underway at the moment, so maybe these are merely freak cases involved with that disease. Time will tell.
There has been something brewing in South America for about 6 months. They have close ties to asian imports and trade.
Some of it they have been calling New Castles in Chickens other cases of foot and mouth.
Argetina, Costa Rica and other countries have had stange die offs. One theory is Suschiean Sheet from the Quang Hi sp> region as in China. Flubola.
Bump for visibility; seems like this bears close monitoring.
The mention of most cases suffering from chronic illness indicates a propensity toward cytokinic dysregulation.
I haven’t considered if H5N1 could more easily infect those with pre-existing cytokinic dysregulation? That’s a topic worth considering?
Any ideas, anyone?
Elisa D – at 00:27
What next???
LOL!! Thus… my “name.”
This article from Pro-Med is dated June 4th, or am I misunderstanding the page?
LEG – at 01:51 --- No, you’re not. The thread got bumped up because of the spam at anonymous – at 01:16.
Thanks BB - another lesson for me -
From what I’ve read, any influenza virus can cause a virulent, brief, isolated outbreak; sure hope this is one of them. I know fluwikians will follow any respiratory disease outbreaks, especially with such hemorrhagic pneumonias, bacterial pneumonias, and deaths.
Grace isn’t that brief isolated outbreak…breaking out called a pandemic?
Isn’t this the pattern that will be followed at the start of a pandemic?
I don’t remember hearing of many instances of the past of this type of thing although I do not follow promed as you would.
Pathogens of all types have been doing some funny (reallly not funny) things over the last five to ten years…this may be another to group in the collection.
Referring to Barry’s book (The great influenza) 2005 edition page 457 “summer of 2002…flu epidemic broke out in Madagascar-an old virus H3N2..it had simply mutated in a violent direction, then reverted back to its usually mild status..” He said it had an extremely high death rate, with some towns having a 67% attack rate.
Perhaps not the most scientific of sources, but I do trust his research…
Closed to maintain Forum speed.