Nodding disease in Africa

[obin_gam]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/19/world/africa/uganda-nodding-disease/index.html

Long and interesting articel, here is the basics of it:

Pader, Uganda (CNN) -- Pauline Oto still wears her faded yellow and green school dress, but she hasn't been to school for years and she can't comprehend what to do with the pen the community nurse has just given her.
"Write on my hand," says the nurse. Pauline just sits on the reed mat, her legs pulled to one side, and stares. She has just had an attack and can't speak. She struggles to comprehend her surroundings.
Pauline, 13, has been struck by the dreaded nodding disease. Her mother, Grace Lagat, says it will take her at least four hours to recover from the seizures, and after each attack she seems less like the daughter she remembers.
"Her personality has changed greatly from before. She was normal when they were born. Now she just moves around and serves no purpose," Lagat says.

Severe epilepsy-like seizures grip the children, they struggle to eat, and they become shells of their former selves. It is a progressive and debilitating syndrome that robs children of their future.
The seizures are triggered in strange ways, say community members, such as when unfamiliar food is brought to the children or when the weather changes.
There are other bizarre symptoms. Often the children will wander off by themselves and get lost in the bush. And other children will start fires, according to parents and medics in the field. Others appear confused and traumatized.

Here's a video from last summer about it:


wow.

 

[The Original Bamfer]

Wow is right. After reading the articles, your summary proved to be a massive exaggeration. People have seizures. And they don't instantly go back to normal after having one. And there was no violence mentioned other than the suspicion that they may be starting fires. So, when you find something even remotely close to violent zombies, feel free to send me an update.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I have no idea why CNN is acting like this is 'zomg breaking news.' This is Nodding disease and it's been documented for half a century. Keep your fanboyish zombie fetish in check and see it for what it is, a tragic disease that's been killing kids in Sudan and Uganda since at least the early 60's. None of them are coming back as brain-eating zombies after dying. They're just dying. If you're so concerned about it, write a check to a charity. Don't trivialize it by comparing it to your 'Walking Dead' wet dreams.

 

[Iron_Stark]

WTF, I was expecting to read something like the China incident with "Patient Zero" from World War Z, not some nodding disease. fail.

 

[DV8]

Sleepy Zombie disease . . . this is not of Zombie apocalypse stature, this is how I feel most Monday mornings

 

[POWdER-man]

I don't know what is more amusing, the ridiculously exaggerated comparison of a disease to a Zombie apocalypse or the sounds of dissapointment in this thread.

 

[Darthphere]

It is kind of sad how badly we want a zombie apocalypse to happen.

 

[O_B_Juan]

It is kind of sad how badly we want a zombie apocalypse to happen.

Anything to get out of going to work everyday.

 

[Darthphere]

Anything to get out of going to work everyday.

Hahahaha, pretty much.

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

I wasted my time clicking on this?! THIS!?!?!?!?!

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Here's my attempt to salvage this thread and keep you disappointed Hypesters from jumping off any ledges: http://zombieresearchsociety.com/

 

[Lily Adler]

I think we were closer to an Apocalypse with the Zombees.

 

[Lencho01]

I don't know what is more amusing, the ridiculously exaggerated comparison of a disease to a Zombie apocalypse or the sounds of dissapointment in this thread.

Same here.

 

[Boom]

A zombie apocalypse is never going to happen.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

It is kind of sad how badly we want a zombie apocalypse to happen.

What I find amusing is those with the biggest hard-on for a zombie apocalypse, are under the delusion that they would somehow be one of the lucky few survivors in such a scenario. They're usually lazy, sedentary dudes who sit in front of their computers drinking mountain dew and eating junk food, not olympic athletes or rugged survivalists with sharpshooting skills. What I'm saying is obin_gam would be one of the first people turned into a zombie. He would be a part of the apocalypse, not the hero fighting it.

 

[chaseter]

They love The Walking Dead...they will survive.

 

[Boom]

Everybody knew that one person in high school/college that would "plan out" the zombie apocalypse. Where they would hole up, what their rules for survival would be, what weapons they would use. All the while, they talk about how awesome it would be. My best friends (who were my roommates in college) discussed this all the time - as they were obsessed with zombie films. It's just one of those thing where you roll your eyes and say, "Guys, I love ya and all, but that's really pathetic."

 

[Darthphere]

Is it really? I mean that type of planning and coordination is something we should all discuss. Not just for a fictional zombie apocalypse but for any major natural disaster or terrorist attack. I mean, they're using fake zombie apocalypse guides to get people ready for hurricane season. And really, what harm does it do to you? People want to feel safe and think they'll survive anything. Let them think that until the point they're flesh is being eaten.

 

[Boom]

It's one thing to plan out emergency survival methods for real-life, practical disasters - like tornadoes, hurricanes, and terrorist attacks.

It's an entirely different thing to plan them out on the sole basis of an uprising of re-animated, cannibalistic corpses.

 

[Darthphere]

It's one thing to plan out emergency survival methods for real-life, practical disasters - like tornadoes, hurricanes, and terrorist attacks.

It's an entirely different thing to plan them out on the sole basis of an uprising of re-animated, cannibalistic corpses.

So you never have fun hypothetical discussions? I mean, if they actually have a fallout shelter and are stocking up on ammo, that's one thing. Talking **** about taking over Wal-Mart is another.

 

[Boom]

So you never have fun hypothetical discussions? I mean, if they actually have a fallout shelter and are stocking up on ammo, that's one thing. Talking **** about taking over Wal-Mart is another.

I've just become bitter because of my friends, I guess. They would legitimately get angry with me if I joked around with them about it, and I know one of them kept an extensive journal on the matter.

I wasn't exaggerating when I said they were obsessed with it. Watching any zombie film almost always devolved into a three hour discussion on the matter, and it was always the same stuff covered over and over again. It got old.

 

[Darthphere]

I've just become bitter because of my friends, I guess. They would legitimately get angry with me if I joked around with them about it, and I know one of them kept an extensive journal on the matter.

I wasn't exaggerating when I said they were obsessed with it. Watching any zombie film almost always devolved into a three hour discussion on the matter, and it was always the same stuff covered over and over again. It got old.

Well I can see that.

I have these discussions with a geeky pal of mine from time to time. Just like the inevitable if I had a time machine discussion pops up.

 

[Boom]

Besides, an alien invasion would be so much cooler .

 

[Darthphere]

Besides, an alien invasion would be so much cooler .

Well I think an alien invasion would be harder to survive, hence why people don't have alien invasion discussions.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Is it really?

Yes.

I mean that type of planning and coordination is something we should all discuss.

No.

Not just for a fictional zombie apocalypse but for any major natural disaster or terrorist attack.

Didn't Boom say:

It's one thing to plan out emergency survival methods for real-life, practical disasters - like tornadoes, hurricanes, and terrorist attacks.

Don't try and conflate a ridiculous thing like a zombie apocalypse with REAL things like natural disasters and terrorist attacks in a strained effort to validate your argument.

Hell, why don't we prepare for the Cloverfield monster, the sky falling (ancient people were scared of that!) and an army of maniacal Justin Bieber clones while we're at it. They're all as likely to happen as a zombie army laying siege to your house. Which means, not at all.

I mean, they're using fake zombie apocalypse guides to get people ready for hurricane season. And really, what harm does it do to you? People want to feel safe and think they'll survive anything. Let them think that until the point they're flesh is being eaten.

Anyone who prepares for a zombie apocalypse needs their head examined. Prepare for a hurricane or an earthquake by all means. If you're high and joking with a friend about "what if" scenarios that's geeky, but okay. If you're actually thinking seriously and making active preparations for zombies, you're unhinged and should seek psychiatric help.