SOMALIA - UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS PLAGUES AMISOM TROOPS

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 001647

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2019
TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV EAID PINR SOCI UG BU SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS PLAGUES AMISOM TROOPS

Classified By: Somalia Unit Counselor Bob Patterson. Reasons: 1.4 (b,d
).


1. (C) Summary: An as-yet undiagnosed illness that has
resulted in the deaths of three Burundian AMISOM troops
appears to have spread to separately-based Ugandan AMISOM
troops in Mogadishu, and caused three more deaths. The ill
soldiers are being medevaced to Nairobi where doctors, with
assistance from CDC staff, are attempting to grapple with the
growing problem. End summary.


2. (C) The as-yet undiagnosed illness appeared in both
Burundian AMISOM camps in Mogadishu about three weeks ago.
According to AMISOM contacts, the initial tranche of sick
troops was originally thought to have malaria, but their
condition worsened after being evacuated to Nairobi for what
was expected to be routine treatment. Others in the
Burundian camps became sick, and ultimately twenty-one
soldiers had to be evacuated. Three of their number died;
two of them before they could be transported from Mogadishu.
The probable causes of their deaths were varied, and the
symptoms manifested by the surviving Burundian troops were
various as well and resisted, according to medical doctors
involved in the cases, any one diagnosis.


3. (C) Ugandan AMISOM troops in Mogadishu began manifesting
the same symptoms during the week of July 27. Fourteen
Ugandan soldiers have been evacuated to Nairobi; and one of
their number has died. Two additional Ugandan troops died
before they could be airlifted from Mogadishu.


4. (C) During the week of July 20, the Minister of Defense of
Burundi sent a medical team to Mogadishu. The team was
headed by a Major General, which indicates the seriousness
with which the problem is regarded. Two Ugandan military
doctors departed for Mogadishu on July 29, and two African
Union physicians are also engaged in the case. One of them
is attending the patients in Nairobi; the second has been
sent to Mogadishu.


5. (C) The CDC Nairobi has formed a working group with the
Aga Khan (Nairobi) Medical Director, the Burundian medical
team, and the AU physicians. (The Ugandan physicians will be
included in the group, once contact with them is
established.) It has also interviewed the patients and is
performing laboratory tests. (Some of the samples have been
sent to the U.S. for analysis.)


6. (C) Although no firm diagnosis has been made, it appears
to the team of physicians that the illnesses can be traced to
sanitary conditions in the camp, and perhaps may be connected
to food preparation.

Comment
--------------


7. (C) If the illness continues to spread, and diagnosis
remains elusive, it could negatively effect the morale and
battlefield capability of the AMISOM troops, who have been
key to the Somalia Transitional Federal Government's
continued ability to maintain a foothold in Mogadishu. The
AU and the armed forces of Burundi and Uganda are well aware
of the negative potential and are making strenuous efforts to
provide a diagnosis and treat the affected troops. The
Somalia Unit is in frequent contact with AMISOM and AU
personnel, as well as with the CDC and the DATTS in Kampala
and Bujumbura.
SLUTZ