Tanzania: 15 people died from deadly virus unknown to science

At least 15 people have died and more than 50 have been hospitalized in the south Tanzania, in the district of Chunya, due to an unidentified infection that has caused many people to nausea and vomit blood, health officials in the African country said on Sunday.

Dr Felista Kisandu, responsible for publicizing the disease, which is believed to have affected 50 other people, has been suspended for 10 days. on the grounds that it would have caused panic among the inhabitants.

Kisandu, who serves as the medical director of Chunya district, described the symptoms, noting that most patients vomited blood and twisted with stomach pain.

Kisandu told the Turkish news agency Anatolia that the patients, mostly men, had stomach problems and ulcers and were told to avoid cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.

According to his account, a senior government chemist was prepared to examine blood and water samples for signs of mercury contamination.

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“It happened in just one administrative department in Ifumbo, where people vomit blood and die when they arrive late at the hospital,” he said.

For her part, Health Minister Dorothy Gwajima denigrated Kisandu’s concerns and suspended her. However, ordered the deployment of a team of experts to assess the situation and asked them to submit a written report establishing the cause of the pathology for future actions, according to a statement released by the ministry.

Ifumbo councilor in Chunya district, Mbeya region, Weston Mpyila, called on the government to help find a solution to the outbreak of the mysterious disease.

HV / DS