A woman returning from Congo who
presented flu-like symptoms potentially similar to the disease
that is affecting a region of the African country was
hospitalized in Cosenza in recent days and has already been
discharged, local health authorities said Wednesday.
The woman, who returned from the African country on November 29,
was discharged after one day, they said.
Local health authorities said samples taken will be analysed by
the Istituto Superiore della Sanità (Higher Health Institute,
ISS).
The likelihood of her having infected someone else is very low,
they added.
On Tuesday, the head of the infectious diseases department of
the local ASL health authority of north-western Tuscany said it
was unlikely that a man from Lucca who recently returned from
the Democratic Republic of Congo with symptoms similar to those
of the mystery disease in the southwest of the African country
had contracted the illness.
The Lucca patient, who was hospitalized from November 23 until
December 3 after travelling to Congo, has also been discharged
after recovering from the disease.
Health ministry and Higher Health Institute (ISS) experts met
Monday to discuss his case.
Also on Monday, NAS health police took samples belonging to the
man and took them to the ISS for analysis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 406 cases of
the so-far undiagnosed condition in the DRC, and 31 deaths for
unknown causes.
The cases have been recorded in the Kwango Province.
Over half of those who died were children under the age of five
who were severely malnourished, the health agency said.
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