Hattip Pathfinder
Since April, Cambodia, on 64 infected children, only one girl survived this unknown disease. The Pasteur Institute, in collaboration with the Kantha Bopha Foundation, attempts to locate the origin of this pathology. A mysterious disease, hitherto unknown to researchers, has killed 63 children since April in central and southern Cambodia. 90% of them were under 5 years.
Since April, Cambodia, on 64 infected children, only one girl survived this unknown disease. The Pasteur Institute, in collaboration with the Kantha Bopha Foundation, attempts to locate the origin of this pathology. A mysterious disease, hitherto unknown to researchers, has killed 63 children since April in central and southern Cambodia. 90% of them were under 5 years.
In collaboration with the Kantha Bopha Foundation, researchers at the
Pasteur Institute are examining samples from the patients and try to find the
origin of pathology.Which symptoms does one recognize this strange disease? Two
recurring syndromes characterize it: infection encephalitis - affecting one part
of the brain - and a lung infection.
"Usually, we get a lot of children in the hospital for dengue, pneumonia, encephalitis and meningitis, explains Denis Lawrence, a biologist for the Kantha Bopha Foundation. But since April 20, we were surprised by a very serious development of acute pneumonia. Children die very quickly, between 24 and 48 hours after arrival.
"Kantha Bopha FoundationThe Kantha Bopha foundation has existed since 1992 and is led by the Swiss pediatrician Beat Richner. It comprises five hospitals (three in Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and two). These establishments do not care for the children from poor families, free of charge. Its budget is fed mainly by private donations.
Nevertheless, the expert believes that there is no cause for alarm: no new cases have been recorded since the beginning and the risks of epidemics are lower.
In addition, doctors have "done a lot of samples that have helped to eliminate the origins of the most dangerous in terms of contagion," says Philippe Buchy, head of virology division at the Pasteur Institute. "This disease could simply be the most severe form of a common disease in Cambodia and in neighboring countries," said he
.Another avenue is explored: a link between a virus and a drug reaction or chemical. "All children who died had taken drugs prior to their arrival at the hospital. The girl who survived the disease had not received the other hand, says the biologist. There is a real problem of self-medication in Cambodia. more poor buy medicines, often counterfeit, without the original packaging and it is difficult for doctors to know what patients have ingested.
"WHO rushed"
The warning from the WHO [World Health Organization, ed] on this disease has caused some panic in Phnom Penh. People call us to know whether to leave the country. This announcement was made too early, we do not have enough information about the disease, "laments Denis Lawrence.
Researchers at the Pasteur Institute hope to receive conclusive results explaining the cause of the disease within a week and a half.http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/sci...e_1135343.html
"Usually, we get a lot of children in the hospital for dengue, pneumonia, encephalitis and meningitis, explains Denis Lawrence, a biologist for the Kantha Bopha Foundation. But since April 20, we were surprised by a very serious development of acute pneumonia. Children die very quickly, between 24 and 48 hours after arrival.
"Kantha Bopha FoundationThe Kantha Bopha foundation has existed since 1992 and is led by the Swiss pediatrician Beat Richner. It comprises five hospitals (three in Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and two). These establishments do not care for the children from poor families, free of charge. Its budget is fed mainly by private donations.
Nevertheless, the expert believes that there is no cause for alarm: no new cases have been recorded since the beginning and the risks of epidemics are lower.
In addition, doctors have "done a lot of samples that have helped to eliminate the origins of the most dangerous in terms of contagion," says Philippe Buchy, head of virology division at the Pasteur Institute. "This disease could simply be the most severe form of a common disease in Cambodia and in neighboring countries," said he
.Another avenue is explored: a link between a virus and a drug reaction or chemical. "All children who died had taken drugs prior to their arrival at the hospital. The girl who survived the disease had not received the other hand, says the biologist. There is a real problem of self-medication in Cambodia. more poor buy medicines, often counterfeit, without the original packaging and it is difficult for doctors to know what patients have ingested.
"WHO rushed"
The warning from the WHO [World Health Organization, ed] on this disease has caused some panic in Phnom Penh. People call us to know whether to leave the country. This announcement was made too early, we do not have enough information about the disease, "laments Denis Lawrence.
Researchers at the Pasteur Institute hope to receive conclusive results explaining the cause of the disease within a week and a half.http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/sci...e_1135343.html
