Hospital discharges 10 patients with mysterious illnesses

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

A GOVERNMENT-RUN hospital in Zamboanga City discharged 10 people who suffered from an unknown disease after they showed signs of recovery from the illness.

Six others suffering from same illness are still in the hospital. Four people in same village have reportedly died of the disease in the village of Mantibo, said Sibuco town Mayor Bong Edding.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

The patients, all from the coastal village of Mantibo in the town of Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, were brought to Zamboanga City Medical Center after they have fallen ill from the mysterious disease.

They all suffered from swollen lower limbs, cramps, loss of appetite, and vomiting.

Mayor Edding said the six remaining patients have been were placed under further observation as doctors are still waiting for results of their laboratory analysis to determine what type of disease they suffer from.

Edding said some health officials in the city suspect the victims may have suffered from the Guillain Barre Syndrome.

Guillain Barre Syndrome is a rare and severe disease, which affects the peripheral nervous system.

However, ZCMC Toxicologist Dr. Aeesha Pingli said she has to rely on the results of the laboratory tests to determine what disease struck the patients.

Samples of blood, urine and feces were taken from the patients and sent to Manila for laboratory analysis.

Of the 16 patients taken to the ZCMC, 12 are males and four are females. The youngest in the group is 19 years old and the oldest is 49 years old.

Edding said he has coordinated with the Department of Health in the region for the conduct of medical mission in Mantibo village.