Disease

Peru alert: Guillain-Barré syndrome

The Peru Ministry of Health announced an investigation into a cluster of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in the city of Trujillo in the La Libertad Region in the northwestern part of the country.

Eight cases of an acute neurological syndrome compatible with the Guillain-Barré syndrome has been reported between April 21 and May 1 at the Bethlehem Hospital in the city of Trujillo, three of them are in care intensive with assisted breathing. This has prompted officials to call on the public to go to the health facility if they feel sudden muscle weakness.

South Africa: Diphtheria

Health officials in South Africa have issued a health alert due to recent diphtheria cases reported in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Since Mar 30, three diphtheria cases, aged 20, 11 and 10 years, have been reported.

Two of the cases were confirmed toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae, while another case was classified as probable. This resulted in two fatalities.

Health service providers have been advised that any person who presents with an upper respiratory tract illness characterized by a sore throat, low-grade fever and an adherent (pseudo)membrane of the nose, pharynx, tonsils or larynx should be considered as a suspected case.

Uganda: Cholera

Government has confirmed an outbreak of infectious cholera in the country including Makindye division in Kampala. At least five people have died of cholera across the country in the past few days according to ministry of Health acting director Dr Henry Mwebesa. Three people died in Tororo over the weekend while another two (all Kenyans) also died last week and more than 40 others are currently infected in Amudat district.