Mysterious flu
Aug. 3 2002— ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - A mysterious flu-like illness has killed more than 150 people in Madagascar in the last two weeks, the Health Ministry said.The ministry said in a statement released on Friday that it had sent a team of researchers to villages in the south of the giant Indian Ocean island to identify the disease, which causes a severe headache and chest pains.According to the statement, 89 people have died in the village of Alakamisy Ambohimaha, 90 miles south of the capital Antananarivo in the last two weeks. Another 64 people have died in Ikongo, 180 miles south of Antananarivo.The ministry said about 450 people had been diagnosed as suffering from the illness and health officials fear it could spread further.Most of the people who have died have been unable to reach a hospital or health center, or have relied on traditional herbal remedies that have failed to cure...
