AFRICA: Seven dead, "Bird Flu Not the Cause"

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   Bird Flu Not Cause of Death in Nimba Chief Medical Officer Discloses 

The NEWS (Monrovia) 

NEWS

March 23, 2006 

Posted to the web March 23, 2006 

Nimba County 

Barely a week following the death of seven persons in Blampa, Nimba County after eating chicken meal prepared by a lady, Liberia's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. S. Benson Barh has disclosed that the death of the deceased has nothing to do with the avian influenza or bird flu.

He attributed the death of the seven persons to poison, adding that someone might have poisoned the "pepper soup" while it was being prepared for consumption or the lady might have cooked the soup with something that is normally not edible.

The Chief Medical Officer said that all tests and investigations carried out by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare proved that the deceased died from poisons and not bird flu as being speculated in certain quarters.

Addressing a news conference Tuesday, Dr. Barh said that on the evening of March 16, 2006, a lady whose named was not mentioned prepared a meal for her family and gave some to her neighbors.

After eating the food, he explained that two hours later, the lady and three of her children died while two of her neighbors' children who also ate the food died later bringing the number of death to six on the same day.

He said that seven persons who also ate the same meal but did not eat enough were immediately taken to the Ganta Hospital for treatment.

According to him, one of the seven persons died the next day thus bringing the number of people that died to seven. Five of the six persons who were hospitalized, he said have been discharged while the remaining one person is recuperating.

He disclosed that sample of the victims' blood has been sent abroad to determine the actual cause of their death noting that the results will be known in about two days but emphasized that it has nothing to do with bird flu.

Dr. Barh admonished Liberians and foreign residents to stop eating what is normally not edible. At the same time, he cautioned them not to panic as bird flu is not in the country.

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: AFRICA: Seven dead, "Bird Flu Not the Cause" Posted: March 23 2006 at 2:42pm
	Bird Flu Not Cause of Death in Nimba Chief Medical Officer Discloses The NEWS (Monrovia) NEWS March 23, 2006 Posted to the web March 23, 2006 Nimba County Barely a week following the death of seven persons in Blampa, Nimba County after eating chicken meal prepared by a lady, Liberia's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. S. Benson Barh has disclosed that the death of the deceased has nothing to do with the avian influenza or bird flu. He attributed the death of the seven persons to poison, adding that someone might have poisoned the "pepper soup" while it was being prepared for consumption or the lady might have cooked the soup with something that is normally not edible. The Chief Medical Officer said that all tests and investigations carried out by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare proved that the deceased died from poisons and not bird flu as being speculated in certain quarters. Addressing a news conference Tuesday, Dr. Barh said that on the evening of March 16, 2006, a lady whose named was not mentioned prepared a meal for her family and gave some to her neighbors. After eating the food, he explained that two hours later, the lady and three of her children died while two of her neighbors' children who also ate the food died later bringing the number of death to six on the same day. He said that seven persons who also ate the same meal but did not eat enough were immediately taken to the Ganta Hospital for treatment. According to him, one of the seven persons died the next day thus bringing the number of people that died to seven. Five of the six persons who were hospitalized, he said have been discharged while the remaining one person is recuperating. He disclosed that sample of the victims' blood has been sent abroad to determine the actual cause of their death noting that the results will be known in about two days but emphasized that it has nothing to do with bird flu. Dr. Barh admonished Liberians and foreign residents to stop eating what is normally not edible. At the same time, he cautioned them not to panic as bird flu is not in the country. http://allafrica.com/stories/200603230764.html