Mystery disease in Angola kills five, affects more than 100
Pastor Dale Morgan
Mystery disease in Angola kills five, affects more than 100*
LUANDA, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2007
An unidentified disease has killed five people and led to more than 100
being hospitalised over the past two weeks in the outskirts of the
Angolan capital Luanda, health officials said Saturday.
"We don't know what it is at this stage", Luanda health official Vita
Vemba told state radio, while announcing the setting up of a special
commission comprising health, environment and local government officials.
The independent financial daily A Capital on Saturday blamed pollution
in city's Cacuaco quarter for the rash of illnesses.
Two weeks ago, Cacuaco residents began complaining of a foul smelling
"green thick smoke" emanating from the chimney of a petroleum unit in
the area, the director of the newspaper, Tandala Francisco, told AFP.
The factory has since been closed.
Symptoms including "sleepiness, tiredness and difficulty with speech,"
witnesses told A Capital. Authorities meanwhile refused comment.
Vemba however dispelled fears of a cholera or fever outbreak.
Oil-rich Angola's sole refinery is located in Cacuaco.