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`Mystery' disease outbreaks are reported fairly often around the globe each year - particularly from remote regions with limited medical resources - and while initially mysterious, most turn out to caused by something relatively common (e.g., Malaria, Dengue, Influenza, Measles, alcohol poisoning, etc.).
Of course, every once in awhile, something new - or at least unexpected - is the cause.
We've another one of these reports today from Tucumán, a small but densely populated province in Northern Argentina, involving (iniially) 6 cases of an unidentified pneumonia among 5 Healthcare workers and 1 patient at a private Sanitarium in the provincial capital of San Miguel de Tucumán.
We've the `official' statement from the Ministry of Health (dated Aug 31st) which cites 6 cases and 2 deaths, followed by media reports of a 3rd death and 3 more `suspected' cases.
ANLIS-MALBRÁN analyzes samples from cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Tucumán
The registered cases correspond to five health workers and a patient from a private sanatorium who started symptoms between August 18 and 22.
Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2022
The National Ministry of Health informs that the National Administration of Health Laboratories and Institutes (ANLIS) “Dr. Carlos Malbrán” received the samples from Tucumán to carry out a diagnostic extension of the six cases of pneumonia of unknown origin.
In addition, the national and provincial health authorities are working together to carry out the investigation of the outbreak, which includes the follow-up of the contacts of the cases and specific control actions in the health center where the outbreak arose.
The registered cases correspond to five health workers and a patient from the intensive care unit of a private sanatorium in San Miguel de Tucumán who started symptoms between the 18th and 22nd of this month. The six cases presented bilateral pneumonia, two of them died, three are hospitalized and the remaining one is in good health in home isolation.
Since August 22, no new cases have been detected.
Today, local media are reporting a 3rd death, and 3 more `suspected' cases within the facility.
(translation)
Tucumán: a third patient died of bilateral pneumonia
This was confirmed by the Minister of Health of that province, Luis Medina Ruiz, who also reported on three other cases of health personnel from the same sanatorium who are experiencing the disease of unknown origin.A 70-year-old woman on Thursday became the third person to die at the Luz Médica Sanatorium in the province of Tucumán from bilateral pneumonia .
This was confirmed by the Minister of Health of that province, Luis Medina Ruiz, who also reported on three other cases of health personnel from the same sanatorium who are experiencing the disease of unknown origin .
At a press conference, the minister reported that the woman who died in the last few hours "was not a health worker" and was hospitalized in the same health facility where the outbreak had originated .
Meanwhile, the three new confirmed cases have an epidemiological link with the other patients and presented symptoms between August 20 and 23. One of these people was admitted to a public hospital, another to the same private sanatorium, and the third remains at her home.
Although most `mystery' outbreaks are eventually identified, and turn out to be less mysterious than originally feared, every once in awhile something new emerges.
So we'll keep an eye on this one.
