Epidemic of Febrile Disease in Berbera, Somalia
Abstract
In April 1989 an epidemic of febrile illness occurred in Berbera, northern Somalia, several weeks after heavy rainfall, flooding and increase in mosquito populations. A malaria epidemic was ongoing in nearby Djibouti. Malnutrition and diarrhoea were endemic. Symptoms were influenza-like, lasted approximately 1 month and progressed to shock and death in about 700 persons between April 4- June 20, 1989. A WHO team detected falciparum malaria among 16/ 25 patients, all negative by Widal tests. In July 1989 a U.S. Navy team administered a questionnaire and obtained blood samples from 100 outpatients at the District Hospital. Peripheral smears were positive from malaria in 16/82 patients (13 falciparum). An additional patient, still symptomatic, had confirmed falciparum malaria which resolved with treatment (fansidar). IgM antibody to dengue virus was detected in only 3%. IgG antibodies were detected for Dengue virus in 59% West Nile Fever virus in 34%, Yellow Fever virus in 30%, Rift Valley Fever and Congo-Crimean Haemorrhagic Fever viruses in 7% each, Chickungunya virus in 4%, Ebola and Marburg viruses in 1% each, Rickettsia conorii and Coxiella burnetii in 40% each and Rickettsia typhi in 13%. The agent responsible for the epidemic could not be confirmed, but serological evidence of arboviral and rickettsial infection requires that these agents be considered in future epidemics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA284793
Entities
People
- A. Corwin
- M. Lluberas
- R. Sanderson
- Richard G. Hibbs
- S. Thornton
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center