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Mystery disease not in SA - yet
16/03/2003 17:34 - (SA)
Pretoria - No confirmed cases of the so-called atypical pneumonia, which is sweeping around the world and has claimed at least nine lives, have yet been reported in South Africa, Dr Stephen Toovey of Medinfo said on Sunday.
"As experience has shown, with modern travel, it may already be here, but we don't know about it," he said.
But Toovey believes common flu might pose more of a danger to South Africans than atypical pneumonia.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the latter a worldwide health threat and said it cannot be stopped by standard drugs.
Since November, as many as 150 cases have been reported in Asia, Europe and North America. According to the WHO, the disease was being spread across the globe by air travel.
Toovey said it was not known whether the disease was caused by a bacterium or a virus.
Last month the WHO warned about avian influenza or influenza A, commonly known as "bird flu", that claimed lives in southern China.
Toovey said the bird flu and atypical pneumonia were probably not related, but it was curious that both diseases emanated from the same part of the world.
According to Toovey there was no need for panic among South Africans about atypical pneumonia, although they needed to be aware of its dangers.
"Part of the problem is that the symptoms are quite similar to that of flu."
These included a high fever and a cough.
"People need to be aware of the symptoms. If they have been in contact with anybody suspected of having this disease they should seek medical attention immediately."
But Toovey added that anyone with a high temperature and a cough should see a doctor anyway.
Atypical pneumonia would probably have a much smaller impact on South Africa than ordinary flu, killed about 5 000 South Africans a year.
Perhaps the warning about the pneumonia might make people
more aware of the danger of flu, Toovey said.
"Now is a good time to get a flu shot."
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