#17,896
We see`Mystery' disease outbreaks reported fairly often around the globe - often 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.
Overnight Colombia's Capital city Bogotá is reporting on an outbreak of SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Disease) at a military academy which has claimed at least one life, and has put two in the ICU, and leaving more than 100 people ill.
While they state this outbreak is `. . potentially due to influenza', for now the exact cause remains unidentified. What is apparent from the response is they are taking this outbreak seriously.
First the translated statement from the Bogotá Health Department, after which I'll have a postscript.
Health Sec. monitors outbreak of severe acute respiratory infection
District Health Secretariat Gerson Bermont, Secretary of Health of Bogota
READ BEFORE SHARING:
PUBLISHED: 5 FEB 2024
Published by: María Alejandra Niño Ortiz
The District Health Secretariat designated a Public Health surveillance team to visit the General José María Córdova Military Cadet School, and investigate a possible respiratory outbreak and mortality due to unusual SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection).
At the moment, the preliminary findings are the following:
Check out this post from the Secretary of Health, Gersón Bermont, where he provides more details about this respiratory outbreak:
- An SARI outbreak was established, potentially due to influenza, with 290 exposed people, of which 101 are symptomatic, 98 are in isolation and 3 are hospitalized (two of them in the ICU).
- A clinical autopsy will be performed on the 18-year-old who died on February 3, at the Central Military Hospital.
- Multidisciplinary teams were available to actively search for cases and isolate other possible respiratory symptoms.
- Field epidemiological investigation continues awaiting new results.
- The Ministry of Health regrets the death of the 18-year-old young man, a student at the General José María Córdova Military Cadet School, and recommends that all families in the academic community, in the event of any respiratory symptoms, immediately inform the directors of the Military School or call 123.
The fact that they haven't at least identified `Influenza A or B' as the culprit (which can generally be done using a Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Test) after several days - even if the subtype remains unclear - is a bit unusual.
Other possible causes include a wide array of non-influenza respiratory viruses, including coronaviruses, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, and NPEVs (non-polio enteroviruses). Bacterial infections (e.g. Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella, etc.) are also possible.
Hopefully we'll get clarification in the hours ahead.
Stay tuned.
