Africa Virus Creeps Into City
INDIA - A rare parasitic infection, trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness, endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, has been detected in parts of Maharashtra including Mumbai, baffling health officials
14 December 2007
1 minute read
* "The death of the Pune patient despite appropriate treatment has confused and worried us." |
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Dr R Katti, state nodal officer for the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project.
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Three persons have been diagnosed with the infection this year, all from different areas and backgrounds. A World Health Organisation (WHO) team, which collected blood samples from the victims a few months ago, is still trying to find out how the disease, which is common in cattle, was transmitted to humans.
The matter has become urgent with the death of one of the victims, a Pune-based water supplier, last month. One person from Chandrapur and an infant from Mumbai were the others diagnosed with trypanosomiasis.
Curiously, none of the patients developed any neurological symptoms. The parasite travels through the circulatory system to the brain, causing lethargy and inconsistent behaviour. It starts as a fever with the patient suffering from joint pain and body ache. If left untreated, it breaks down the person’s immunity and may lead to death.
In India, only animals were known to be infected by certain trypanosomes. “There is still a big question mark how it was transmitted,” said Dr R Katti, state nodal officer for the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project. “The death of the Pune patient despite appropriate treatment has confused and worried us.”
Source: Daily News & Analysis
