‘Mystery illness’ reported in south-western Tanzania

MBEYA, Tanzania

An unidentified illness has been reported in south-western Tanzania by local media where patients are said to vomit blood and die instantly.

Health officials in Chunya district are quoted as saying that some victims died within hours.

The health ministry said it had sent a team of experts to investigate the reports but ruled out any epidemic.

Health Minister, Dorothy Gwajima, has suspended the local district chief medical officer, Felister Kisandu who was quoted by local media as confirming the illness, the Citizen newspaper reports.

Last Saturday, Kisandu concurred with some sentiments by some politicians in the district who alleged that there had been an emergence of a strange disease that had so far killed 10 people after vomiting blood in the area.

It all started during a full council meeting when Ifumbo councillor Weston Mpyila wanted to know whether the government was aware of the emergence of the disease and the steps it was taking to control it.

The Council deputy chairman, who led the meeting, said the authorities were aware of the emergence of the disease and already medics were in the ward to ascertain the impact of the disease, whose solution was still being worked upon.

The medical officer is reported to have admitted about the emergence of the disease and said a team of medical experts had already started investigating the disease and specimen had been collected for further probe.

She said most affected by the disease were male patients, who were diagnosed with liver and ulcer complications and that the regional authorities promised to conduct a study on the disease so that to know its cause.

The ministry said it had established that the symptoms exhibited had been reported from as early as 2018.

It urged the public to remain calm as it investigates and promised to provide more information.

Tanzania has been accused of downplaying the scale of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tanzanians have been urged to boost their immunity with herbal remedies in the face of the pandemic.

The government has not provided any evidence that herbal remedies are effective.