Mystery disease kills 100 in Uganda
January 8th, 2012 - 8:02 pm ICT by IANSKampala (Uganda), Jan 8 (IANS) A mystery disease has killed over 100 people and infected more than 2,000 in northern Uganda.The disease, first reported in September 2009, has since been dubbed “nodding disease” as it leaves its victims nodding, Xinhua reported.
Spread over the region’s five districts, the disease is characterised by head nodding, mental retardation and stunted growth and affects children and young adults. It causes young children and adolescents to nod violently while eating.
Scientists are to launch a series of investigations as the previous efforts couldn’t identify the disease’s cause.
The two previous samples and tests carried out by Centres for Disease Control (CDC) scientists in Atlanta in the US failed to identify the cause of the disease, said Richard Nduhura, minister of state for health in charge of general duties.
A team of scientists from the ministry of health, World Health Organisation (WHO) and CDC is going to carry out new tests, said Nduhura, who is leading a fact finding mission in the affected areas.
- Seven more children die of mysterious illness in Bihar - Jun 19, 2011
- Two in three Chinese could be overweight in 20 years - Jan 06, 2011
- How dietary supplement could block cancer cells - Jun 30, 2010
- Scientists isolate gene behind mental retardation - Jul 17, 2011
- Foetal exposure to chemical BPA causes problems in girls - Oct 24, 2011
- Mysterious disease kills 13 children in Bihar - Jun 18, 2011
- Brain's stunted growth behind teen misbehaviour - Apr 01, 2011
- Five more children die of mystery disease in Bihar - Jun 20, 2011
- WHO experts investigate Bihar's mystery disease - Jun 24, 2011
- Bihar's mystery disease identified as toll rises to 41 - Jun 23, 2011
- Swine flu hits 57 million Americans, kills 17,000 - Feb 13, 2010
- Discovery enables quicker diagnosis of chikunguyna - Mar 15, 2012
- Scientists close to finding meningococcal B shot - May 08, 2012
- Mystery disease kills four more in Bihar - Jun 21, 2011
- Scientists identify gene behind rare brain disorder - May 09, 2011
Tags: adolescents, cdc, cdc scientists, fact finding mission, health world, investigations, kampala uganda, mental retardation, minister of state, ministry of health, mystery disease, nodding disease, northern uganda, stunted growth, world health organisation, xinhua, young adults