Saturday, June 30, 2012

Strange skin disease is chronic intoxication June 29, 2012 LookAtVietnam – The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 28 made a joint-statement on the bizarre skin disease in Ba To district of the central province of Quang Ngai. According to the Ministry of Health, the strange disease in Quang Ngai is actually a chronic intoxication, which can cause inflammation and wounds in hands, feet and liver. Only people in Ba To district are discovered to suffer from this syndrome. The first patients were reported in Ba To district last April. By June 2012, a total of 216 cases have been recorded, including 12 deaths, in five communes of Ba To district. At present, 18 people are being treated at hospitals in Quang Ngai and neighboring provinces. The Ministry of Health has conducted many surveys in Ba To and until now, it has not found out the reasons causing this strange disease. However, the Ministry has excluded infection as a cause. In addition, many patients were malnourished and many of them ate rice that contained aflatoxins, which is toxic for human. Experts also did not find out heavy metal or agricultural chemicals in samples collected from patients or environment in Ba To. The WHO and the US Center for Disease Control (USCDC) have closely combined with the Ministry of Health to research this disease. In early June, two WHO and USCDC’s experts came to Vietnam to work with the Preventive Medicine Agency. “We support the Ministry of Health’s measures to control the disease in Quang Nam and we believe that the Ministry is going in the right direction. As we do not know about the source of this syndrome, seeking for the cause may be longer than schedule and would be a challenge,” said Dr. Takeshi Kasai, chief WHO representative in Vietnam.

Strange skin disease is chronic intoxication

June 29, 2012

LookAtVietnam – The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 28 made a joint-statement on the bizarre skin disease in Ba To district of the central province of Quang Ngai.

According to the Ministry of Health, the strange disease in Quang Ngai is actually a chronic intoxication, which can cause inflammation and wounds in hands, feet and liver. Only people in Ba To district are discovered to suffer from this syndrome.
The first patients were reported in Ba To district last April. By June 2012, a total of 216 cases have been recorded, including 12 deaths, in five communes of Ba To district. At present, 18 people are being treated at hospitals in Quang Ngai and neighboring provinces.
The Ministry of Health has conducted many surveys in Ba To and until now, it has not found out the reasons causing this strange disease. However, the Ministry has excluded infection as a cause.
In addition, many patients were malnourished and many of them ate rice that contained aflatoxins, which is toxic for human. Experts also did not find out heavy metal or agricultural chemicals in samples collected from patients or environment in Ba To.
The WHO and the US Center for Disease Control (USCDC) have closely combined with the Ministry of Health to research this disease.
“We support the Ministry of Health’s measures to control the disease in Quang Nam and we believe that the Ministry is going in the right direction. As we do not know about the source of this syndrome, seeking for the cause may be longer than schedule and would be a challenge,” said Dr. Takeshi Kasai, chief WHO representative in Vietnam.
N.Anh

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.