Catbird
Senior Moderator
Strange disease hits Aflao coastal communities
11th February, 2013
"Aflao, Feb, 11, GN - A strange sickness, manifesting in excessive coughing, sneezing and chest pains has broken out in some coastal communities at Aflao, in the Volta Region.
So far about 3,000 people in Atisukope, Atorkukope, Mifetukope and Abeliakope communities are affected by the disease, however, there are no reported casualties.
Unverified reports indicate that people living in parts of neighbouring Lome, Togo, have also been affected by the disease.
Only 10 people are on record to have formally reported with the conditions at the Ketu-South District Hospital, where they were treated, and others afflicted were resorting to self-medication.
The Ghana News Agency learned that some personnel of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Immigration Service and other security officers at the Aflao border had also been affected.
Other manifestations of the disease are pains in the ribs, headache, feverishness, irritating and stuffy nostrils and sleep disturbances.
The cause of the strange disease, said to have been noticed last Friday, at around 1500 hours, is not yet known, but some people are linking it to the dumping of chemical waste in the ocean.
Mr Joe Degle, Ketu-South District Director of the Ghana Health Service, said the Service had been closely following the story, and that a visit by a team to the affected areas on Monday, indicated a drop in the number of affected people.
Mr Doe Kornyo, Ketu-South Municipal Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), who led a team from the Disease Control Unit of NADMO from Accra to the affected areas, told journalists that the organisation was monitoring the situation.
Mr Roger Ayivi, a victim, appealed to the authorities to investigate the disease, which he said could be airborne, to avert a calamity...".
?There?s no disease outbreak in V/R?
"The Doctor in charge of the Ketu South District Hospital of the Volta Region, Dr. Asare-Bediako has called on residents in the District to allay their fears on the reported outbreak of a disease in the area.
Dr. Bediako in an exclusive interview with Today said the disease which symptoms include excessive coughing, sneezing and chest pains is not as serious as it has been reported in the media.
...So far about 3,000 people in Atisukope, Atorkukope, Mifetukope and Abeliakope communities are affected by the disease, the report also continued that people living in parts of neighbouring Lome, Togo, have also been affected by the disease.
This figure according to Dr. Asare-Bediako was not correct as his outfit had only recorded fewer cases which they have treated and discharged.
?We have only recorded 12 reported cases and we have treated and discharged them, none of them was hospitalized ?,? he emphasized.
He attributed the outbreak to ?a possible inhaling of a chemical in the area? which he said personnel from the Disease Control Unit of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) were investigating.
The Ketu District Hospital Doctor also dismissed rumours that residents were suffering as a result of inhaling chemicals from the Diamond Cement factory at Aflao.
?Diamond cement factory has not introduced any new product and more so the areas affected experiencing this is about 5 kilometres or more away from the border?.?
He could however not readily give details of persons reported to be affected by the disease in Lome, which the media had alleged...".
11th February, 2013
"Aflao, Feb, 11, GN - A strange sickness, manifesting in excessive coughing, sneezing and chest pains has broken out in some coastal communities at Aflao, in the Volta Region.
So far about 3,000 people in Atisukope, Atorkukope, Mifetukope and Abeliakope communities are affected by the disease, however, there are no reported casualties.
Unverified reports indicate that people living in parts of neighbouring Lome, Togo, have also been affected by the disease.
Only 10 people are on record to have formally reported with the conditions at the Ketu-South District Hospital, where they were treated, and others afflicted were resorting to self-medication.
The Ghana News Agency learned that some personnel of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Immigration Service and other security officers at the Aflao border had also been affected.
Other manifestations of the disease are pains in the ribs, headache, feverishness, irritating and stuffy nostrils and sleep disturbances.
The cause of the strange disease, said to have been noticed last Friday, at around 1500 hours, is not yet known, but some people are linking it to the dumping of chemical waste in the ocean.
Mr Joe Degle, Ketu-South District Director of the Ghana Health Service, said the Service had been closely following the story, and that a visit by a team to the affected areas on Monday, indicated a drop in the number of affected people.
Mr Doe Kornyo, Ketu-South Municipal Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), who led a team from the Disease Control Unit of NADMO from Accra to the affected areas, told journalists that the organisation was monitoring the situation.
Mr Roger Ayivi, a victim, appealed to the authorities to investigate the disease, which he said could be airborne, to avert a calamity...".
?There?s no disease outbreak in V/R?
"The Doctor in charge of the Ketu South District Hospital of the Volta Region, Dr. Asare-Bediako has called on residents in the District to allay their fears on the reported outbreak of a disease in the area.
Dr. Bediako in an exclusive interview with Today said the disease which symptoms include excessive coughing, sneezing and chest pains is not as serious as it has been reported in the media.
...So far about 3,000 people in Atisukope, Atorkukope, Mifetukope and Abeliakope communities are affected by the disease, the report also continued that people living in parts of neighbouring Lome, Togo, have also been affected by the disease.
This figure according to Dr. Asare-Bediako was not correct as his outfit had only recorded fewer cases which they have treated and discharged.
?We have only recorded 12 reported cases and we have treated and discharged them, none of them was hospitalized ?,? he emphasized.
He attributed the outbreak to ?a possible inhaling of a chemical in the area? which he said personnel from the Disease Control Unit of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) were investigating.
The Ketu District Hospital Doctor also dismissed rumours that residents were suffering as a result of inhaling chemicals from the Diamond Cement factory at Aflao.
?Diamond cement factory has not introduced any new product and more so the areas affected experiencing this is about 5 kilometres or more away from the border?.?
He could however not readily give details of persons reported to be affected by the disease in Lome, which the media had alleged...".
