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2010-02-22 19:43:03 - Epidemic Hazard - Fiji EDIS CODE: EH-20100222-25036-FJI
Date & Time: 2010-02-22 19:43:03 [UTC]
Area: Fiji, , Statewide, '!!! WARNING !!! Number of Infected person(s): 32
Damage level: Moderate (Level 2)
Not confirmed information! Description: Fortyfour cases of typhoid have been confirmed in the country and the Ministry of Health has dispatched teams to affected areas to control the spread of the disease. According to the ministry, the re-emergence of the water-borne disease is caused by improper disposal of sewerage and the problem is being looked at as a national crisis. "Any outbreak is an emergency, to us it helps when an outbreak happens, diverting our resources to intervene when an outbreak happens. So that one becomes priority number one, all other issues become secondary, because we hope to intervene and interrupt transmission by purging our resources. So much is at stake so at national level this is an emergency," said Dr Joe Koroivueta, deputy secretary public health. So far there have been 32 cases of typhoid reported in the Central Eastern division, five in the West (all of them in Namuimada, Ra) and seven in the North. Dr Koroivueta said as a preventative measure to to control the spread of the disease, people in the infected areas were warned not to hold social gatherings and functions. "Even after such warnings were given, a particular locality went ahead and had a gunu sede, the disease is spread through contact as it is through water" he said. Divisional Medical Officer Central, Dr Frances Bingwor, said Fiji is quite a mobile place with people travelling daily so it is necessary that all precautions are taken to ensure that the spread of the disease is stopped. "We have to take heed of the problem so a general awareness has to be created on the proper disposal of waste. "The key thing to do is to emphasise to the members of the public how they can keep themselves safe from the disease," said Dr Bingwor. "In a 2008 crisis between January and September, 258 cases were reported and a multi-stakeholder approach with donor agencies was taken, This number was brought down to seven." She said typhoid could not be cured at home and medical intervention was necessary. "If you suspect that you have the disease, that is, running stomach and high fever all care must be taken to consult medical help."
The name of Hazard: Typhoid
Species: Human
Status: Confirmed
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