2010-03-10 04:20:12 - Epidemic Hazard - Zimbabwe EDIS CODE: EH-20100310-25259-ZWE
Date & Time: 2010-03-10 04:20:12 [UTC]
Area: Zimbabwe, Mashonaland East, Mabvuku, Harare Number of death person(s): 5
Number of Infected person(s): 30
Not confirmed information! Description: Five people, who died from what was initially believed to be malaria in Mabvuku, actually succumbed to typhoid fever, Harare City Council’s health department has said. City health services director Dr Stanley Mungofa said they had moved into the area where 40 other people have been infected. "Some people might be carrying the bacteria, but do not show any signs of the water-borne disease so examinations will assist to detect carriers and potential cases early," he said. Typhoid symptoms usually develop one to three weeks after exposure to the bacteria. Dr Mungofa said as of Monday, 30 people were being treated at the Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospi-tals. He said they had positively identified the bacteria in five patients and were certain that they were dealing with an outbreak, though they were confident it could be contained. Dr Mungofa said council would also improve the supply of water to the suburb through deployment of bowsers and increased health awareness campaigns. "Our health promoters are moving door-to-door emphasising sanitation and hygiene and seeing if there are any other new cases," he said. Dr Mungofa urged people to stick to basic standards of hygiene such as washing hands before handling meals and after using the toilet. He said people should also eat food while it is still hot and should not hesitate to seek medical attention once they observe any slight symptoms of typhoid. Typhoid is transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the waste of an infected person. It is characterised by a slowly progressive fever as high as 40°C, profuse sweating and non-bloody diarrhoea. Less commonly a rash of flat, rose-coloured spots may appear. Untreated typhoid fever manifests itself through a headache, coughing, nosebleeds and abdominal pain. Typhoid can only spread in environments where human waste or urine comes into contact with food or drinking water. Flying insects feeding on human excreta may occasionally transfer the bacteria through poor hygiene habits and public sanitation conditions.
The name of Hazard: Typhoid Fever
Species: Human
Status: Suspected
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Publicado por
NEWS
