Strange sickness besieged Ondo state Nigeria

The Ondo State Government is working hard to control a strange disease which suddenly broke out in the Ode-Irele community of Ondo state, leading to the death of no fewer than 28 people in the past three days.

Residents say the disease broke out three days ago and spread rapidly around the community, killing its victim within 24 hours.
The cause of the disease remained unknown.

Experts say preliminary reports from victims revealed neurologic clinical symptoms: blindness, and loss of consciousness.

Ebola Alert, an evidence-driven group of volunteer professionals who helped with the Ebola Virus Disease interventions in the country, said 28 people have died from the disease.
But the State Health Commissioner, Dayo Adeyanju, put the number of dead victims at 12.
Mr. Adeyanju, while briefing newsmen in Akure, said preliminary investigations showed that the disease is not Ebola “as it does not manifest any of its symptoms, but it attacks the central nervous system of the victims”.
He said the state government, after getting information on the disease, immediately deployed officials who took samples from victims which was sent to Lagos for laboratory analysis to help understand the nature of the disease.

Mr. Adeyanju, who warned against spreading false information on social media, said the government is on top of the situation, and advised people in the council area to report any strange illness to the nearest health facility.
He assured that the government is also doing its best to contain the disease from further spreading out of the town while those infected were being quarantined at the General Hospital, Irele, with other patients moved out of the facility.
The Health Commissioner also advised people of the area to avoid handling dead bodies at this period to help contain further spread of the disease.
A journalist who visited the affected community Thursday said he was told by residents that the ailment had spiritual undertone.

“Community leaders said some people broke into a shrine, and the god became angry with them, striking all those people who have hands in the act,” the journalist said, asking not to be named.
“Our team also saw people performing rituals in the community. They believe that the ritual will appease the god and that the disease will end.”
But the state’s Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, said he was not aware of any spiritual dimension to the development.
“All I can tell you is that medical experts are on ground, attending to victims and doing all the necessary tests. Government is working hard to contain the disease, and I can tell you that it is under control,” Mr. Akinmade told PREMIUM TIMES.

Ebola Alert later posted an update on its twitter handle on Thursday night saying the disease is under control and that its cause was being investigated.
The organisation said the Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation, and the National Centre for Disease Control had been alerted of the outbreak.


Source:- http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/181578-strange-disease-ravages-ondo-community-28-dead.html

The effect of Cholesterol on life

What can turn a normal, needed, healthful substance into a dangerous killer? How can something that makes sex hormones, helps build strong bones, and balances the body's stress response also choke off oxygen and damage vital organs and tissues?It is very vital for us all to know that cholesterol is both hero and villain. While we cannot live without it, in excessive amounts it can kill us. The blood cholesterol level is the single most important factor in determining a person's risk for heart disease, the nation's number one killer.

Basic guidelines for a lifetime of good eating

Life is full of sickness and diseases and these sickness are caused by us. The basic guidelines for a lifetime of good eating are ;-
a. Eat less of the following1. Visible fats and oils. Avoid fatty meats, cooking and salad oils, sauces, margarines, butter, dressings, and shortening. Avoid frying ; sauté instead with a little water in non-stick pans.
2. Sugars. Limit sugar, honey, molasses, syrups, pies, cakes, pastries, candy , cookies e.t.c.
3. Food containing cholesterol. Avoid meat, sausages, egg yolks, and liver. Limit dairy products, if used to low fat cheeses and non fat milk products.
4. Salt. Use minimal salt during cooking. Strictly limit highly salted products like pickles, crackers, soy sauce , salted popcorn.
5. Alcohol. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages such as coffee, colas, and black tea.
b. Eat more:1. Whole grains. Freely use brown rice, millet, barley, corn, wheat and rye.
2. Tubers and legumes. Freely use all kinds of white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yams.
3. Fruits and vegetables. Eat several fresh, whole fruits every day. Limit fruits canned in syrup and fiber - poor fruit juices.
4. Water. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Vary the routine with a twist of lemon and occasional herb teas.
5. Hearty breakfasts. Enjoy hot multigrain cereals, fresh fruit and whole - wheat toast. Jump start your day.

Stroke is the first cause of acquired disability in the world

A stroke, brain attack, or a Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA), is the sudden death of brain cells caused by a lack of supply in oxygen to the brain. There are two main types of stroke:

• Ischemic strokes or cerebral infarcts (80% of strokes) result from a blockage or a reduction of blood flow in an artery that irrigates the brain. They are caused either by a blood clot (thrombus) which blocks the blood vessel or by the buildup of plaque (often due to cholesterol) within the arteries which narrows vessels resulting in a loss of blood flow.
• Haemorrhagic strokes are due to the rupture of an artery within the brain triggering an intracerebral haemorrhage (15% of strokes) or to the rupture of an aneurysm (arteriovenous malformation) entailing subarachnoid haemorrhage (5% of strokes).

What are the consequences of a stroke?

Resulting disabilities will vary depending on stroke location and severity.

After a stroke, brain cells die in the affected areas resulting to damaged or even lose neurons. Patients will often suffer physical disabilities such as partial loss of motricity or hemiplegia, sensory loss, language disorders, aphasia, visual disorders, and even memory loss. Level of recovery will vary from patient to patient. Starting rapidly a rehabilitation program is key to recovery.

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** Clinical study published in peer reviewed journal "Stroke". Reference: Stroke. 2009 Mar;40(3):859-63.