Mystery Chinese disease toll now 17 [View All]

Mystery Chinese disease toll now 17

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,16038979%255E1702,00.html

25jul05

THE death toll from an unidentified disease has risen to 17 with 41 other people affected in southwest China's Sichuan province, state media said overnight.

The victims, all farmers, came from dozens of different villages around the neighbouring cities of Ziyang and Neijiang, Xinhua news agency said.

All of them showed similar symptoms such as fever, fatigue, nausea and vomiting and later became comatose, it said.

Two of the victims had recovered while 12 were in critical condition and 27 others were stable.

According to a preliminary investigation, the affected farmers had butchered sick pigs or sheep before coming down with the mystery illness, Xinhua said.