WHO probing mystery disease
2008-10-10 14:25
Geneva - The UN health agency says it is investigating a mystery disease that killed three people in the South African city of Johannesburg.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the disease appears to be a form of hemorrhagic fever.
It says tests have proved negative for Ebola, Lassa fever, Rift Valley fever, Marburg fever and other main types of hemorrhagic fever.
WHO spokesperson Gregory Hartl says the first death occurred on September 13 and concerned a tour guide who had fallen ill in Zambia before being evacuated to South Africa. Two further deaths on September 30 and October 4 involved a paramedic and a nurse who treated the woman.
Hartl said on Friday that 121 people are being monitored and WHO hopes to receive further test results by Sunday.
- AP