MALAWI INVESTIGATES TRANSBORDER DISEASE OUTBREAK

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000406 SIPDIS LONDON FOR AF WATCHER PETER LORD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SOCI TBIO AMED MI SUBJECT: MALAWI INVESTIGATES TRANSBORDER DISEASE OUTBREAK ¶1. Summary: An unusual disease with neurological complications has affected 115 persons in Malawi and Mozambique since May of this year, with 15 deaths. The cause is still unknown. On July 16th CDC Malawi participated in an emergency meeting with Ministry of Health officials and other development partners to discuss the response to the outbreak. The meeting concluded with the GOM formally requesting USG emergency assistance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Post held an EAC meeting to discuss the outbreak and will take further action as appropriate. End summary. ¶2. Since May of this year, an unusual disease has affected 90 persons in the Neno district of Malawi and 34 in the adjacent Tsangano district of Mozambique. To date, 15 deaths have been reported, eight in Malawi, and seven in Mozambique. Affected persons display unusual symptoms with neurological complications. Patients admitted to hospital were put on a variety of antibiotics and given supportive care including rehydration. Patients responded to treatment, showing complete recovery in three to five weeks. ¶3. Initial laboratory and radiology examinations failed to identify the specific illness affecting these patients. The Ministry of Health (MOH) collected blood and CSF (cerebral/spinal fluid) samples for further testing in Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa, and all results were negative. New samples have been taken and are in the process of being shipped to CDC, Atlanta for analysis. ¶4. GOM health officials in Neno are conducting daily case detection and mass health education on sanitation and hygiene in the Malawian villages where the outbreak occurred. Although Mozambican authorities initially coordinated their investigation of the outbreak with Malawian counterparts, , the current status of the investigation in Mozambique is unknown. ¶5. In addition to the MOH, CDC staff in Malawi is coordinating closely with WHO, UNICEF, the US Mission in Mozambique, and CDC Atlanta and Ft. Collins. ¶6. On July 15, the GOM formally requested EPI-AID assistance from USG. EPI-AID is CDC's emergency response package, providing full laboratory, treatment and containment support, including sending subject matter experts to work directly with host country health officials. CDC Malawi has forwarded the request to Washington and Atlanta. CDC Atlanta is presently working to put together a team that is expected to be in Malawi next week. ¶7. Post held an EAC meeting to discuss the outbreak. The EAC concluded that the outbreak, which was occurring in a relatively remote area of the country, did not pose an immediate threat to post personnel or American citizens in Malawi. Post will continue to monitor the situation closely through CDC personnel engaged in the response effort. BODDE