Confusion remains over Yushchenko illness

It is still not known what caused the illness that struck Ukrainian opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko during the election campaign, leaving his face scarred, the director of the hospital that treated him said today.

Yushchenko has accused the Ukrainian authorities of poisoning him, something they deny. He first sought treatment at Vienna’s private Rudolfinerhaus clinic on September 10, four days after falling ill.

He went home in mid-September to resume campaigning, but came back to the hospital later that month for more treatment, returning to the campaign in early October. The illness has changed his appearance, leaving his once-smooth skin pockmarked and one eye often tearing up.

Doctors are still running tests to try to determine what caused the illness, said Dr Michael Zimpfer, the Rudolfinerhaus director.

“We are meticulously investigating that, and we are running entirely new tests in different labs, but there is no evidence so far,” he said.

He rejected as “entirely untrue” a story in today’s edition of The (British) Times, which quoted Dr. Nikolai Korpan – the Rudolfinerhaus physician who oversaw Yushchenko’s treatment – as saying that Yushchenko had been poisoned, and that the intention was to kill the candidate.

Korpan was not available for comment, but speaking to the Austria Press Agency, he denied making the comments published in The Times.

“The suspicion of poisoning has until now neither been confirmed or excluded,” Korpan was quoted as saying.

Zimpfer said doctors had only “a descriptive diagnosis” but were still trying to determine what had caused the illness.

It could have had natural causes, or it could have been a poison, Zimpfer said, adding that “it might also have been a combination of poisons. Everything is in the air.”

One of the theories being tested is whether Yushchenko could have suffered dioxin poisoning, as suggested by British toxicologist John Henry. Dioxin poisoning can spark chloracne – a type of adult acne caused by exposure to toxic chemicals.

One of the chief doctors treating Yushchenko, Dr. Lothar Wicke, has been placed under police protection after receiving an anonymous threat. No details about the threat have been released.

Yushchenko was defeated by Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych in the November 21 presidential election runoff, but the result was later cancelled by the Supreme Court. A re-run of the election is set for December 26.