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Public Health Alert in PNG- cholera, dysentery, influenza
Sunday, 13 September, 2009
Local papers yesterday reported that the National Government yesterday officially declared a public health emergency for disease-stricken Menyamya, Wasu in Tewai-Siassi, Lae and affected parts of Gulf and Eastern Highlands provinces.
The move follows a visit by representatives of the Government, Health Department, World Health Organisation and AusAID to Lae this week to obtain first hand situation reports from the provincial health command post about surveillance and containment of the outbreaks. The public health emergency, which was announced by Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Sasa Zibe yesterday, will give more powers to health authorities to carry out a full-scale containment exercise
All schools and prepared food markets in Lae have been ordered closed as a precautionary measure, in an attempt to contain the spread of the outbreaks.
Health secretary Dr Clement Malau said that an environmental health inspection survey was currently being conducted in villages along the Bumbu River.
After his visit to Lae, Dr Malau praised health teams working in the area and for the support of the World Health Organisation, AusAID, Medecins San Frontieres and other private bodies.
As of yesterday morning, figures obtained for Menyamya showed there have been 393 known cases of dysentery, with 29 deaths reported.
There have been 242 cases of cholera so far with 18 deaths, while 3,099 cases of influenza have been reported, with 51 deaths.
