The Namibian health authorities have confirmed the outbreak of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever, following the death of a patient in the eastern town of Gobabis last week.
Lab tests confirmed the male patient died from the viral illness, the Ministry of Health and Social Services said in a statement.
A total of 27 contacts, including 24 health workers, have been identified.
Authorities have urged people who may have had direct contact with the patient to report to the nearest facility.
The ministry said one confirmed case is considered an outbreak, according to the WHO protocols.
The disease can be caught from contact with infected blood or tissues from a person or animal.
Symptoms then develop quite quickly – after a few days – and include fever, aches, nausea and vomiting, and a rash caused by bleeding into the skin.
Patients can become severely ill with organ damage, which can be fatal.
Source: BBC News
Richard Koomson| mediacentralonline.info |Ghana
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