Mystery Illness: Ministry of Health issues alert on 'strange disease'

Ghana’s Health Ministry has issued a health alert following what it calls a strange disease that has so far claimed the lives of eleven people in the West African country, Liberia.

The Ministry said that it had received information that at least nine others have been infected by the disease, with the victims having had similar symptoms.

“The symptoms reported by the victims mainly are headache, weakness, diarrhoea, vomiting, mental confusion, abdominal pain and fever. The Ministry has been advised to increase surveillance at all levels to prevent importation of the strange disease,” a letter from the Health Ministry has indicated.

The unexplained illness has since April 23 this year claimed the lives of several people the World Health Organisation reported. About 28 people were taken ill, including an unknown number of children in Sinoe County.

The mystery began when an 11-year-old was admitted to a hospital April 23.

The child had diarrhoea and vomiting and was confused after attending the funeral of a religious leader the previous day, according to the WHO.

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