The Government of Papua New Guinea has finally decided to declare a State of Emergency (SOE). If one takes into account the geographic remoteness of some of the affected areas, the lack of resources available to local Health Authorities and the general prevailing confusion – it’s probably fair to surmise that the health workers on the ground are currently doing the best that they can.
The map on the left (click to enlarge) shows the degree to which the outbreak has spread throughout Morobe, Eastern Highlands and Gulf Provinces. At this stage it’s anyone’s guess as to how serious this is all going to get. As I mentioned previously my gravest concern is that the outbreak will continue to spread and eventually reach into the urban and settlement centers deep within the Highlands.
Various medical definitions courtesy MedicineNet.com follow:
Cholera
A devastating and sometimes lethal disease with intense vomiting and profuse watery diarrhea leading to dehydration which, unless immediately treated, may be fatal. Cholera was discovered in 1883 to be due to infection with Vibrio cholerae, a comma-shaped bacteria. The discovery was made by the great German bacteriologist Robert Koch (1843-1910).
Dysentery
Inflammation of the intestine, often with pain, diarrhea, bloody stools, etc. It is usually caused by infestation of the bowel by an ameba. Dysentery can be fatal, usually due to severe dehydration. Treatment includes rapid rehydration, sometimes via IV, and medication. From the Greek “dys-” meaning “abnormal or painful” + “enteron” meaning “intestine” = abnormal or painful intestine.
Influenza
Influenza, commonly called “the flu,” is an illness caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. Compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, influenza (flu) infection often causes a more severe illness with a mortality rate (death rate) of about 0.1% of people who are infected with the virus. Unusually severe worldwide outbreaks (pandemics) have occurred several times in the last 100 years since influenza virus was identified in 1933.
Swine Flu
The swine influenza A (H1N1) virus that has infected humans in the U.S. and Mexico is a novel influenza A virus that has not previously been identified in North America. This virus is resistant to the antiviral medications amantadine (Symmetrel) and rimantadine (Flumadine), but is sensitive to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). Investigations of these cases suggest that on-going human-to-human swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is occurring.
Bacteria
Single-celled microorganisms which can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent upon another organism for life).The term bacteria was devised in the 19th century by the German botanist Ferdinand Cohn (1828-98) who based it on the Greek bakterion meaning a small rod or staff. In 1853, Cohn categorised bacteria as one of three types of microorganisms — bacteria (short rods), bacilli (longer rods), and spirilla (spiral forms). The term bacteria was preceded in the 17th century by the microscopic animalcules described by Antony van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723).
Virus
A microorganism smaller than a bacteria, which cannot grow or reproduce apart from a living cell. A virus invades living cells and uses their chemical machinery to keep itself alive and to replicate itself. It may reproduce with fidelity or with errors (mutations)-this ability to mutate is responsible for the ability of some viruses to change slightly in each infected person, making treatment more difficult.
Outbreak
Pandemic is an epidemic (a sudden outbreak) that becomes very widespread and affects a whole region, a continent, or the world. By contrast an epidemic affects more than the expected number of cases of disease occurring in a community or region during a given period of time. A sudden severe outbreak within a region or a group as, for example, AIDS in Africa or AIDS in intravenous drug users. An endemic is present in a community at all times but in low frequency. An endemic is continuous as in the case of malaria in some areas of the world or as with illicit drugs in some neighbourhoods.
Today’s newspapers reported the following on the Outbreak situation:
It’s now an emergency
Post Courier: story by Maureen Gerewa
HEALTH Minister Sasa Zibe yesterday declared a public health emergency in response to outbreaks of cholera and shigella flu in parts of Morobe Province. While making an announcement in Port Moresby health officials including the World Health Organisation country representative Dr Eigil Sorensen and Health Secretary Dr Clement Malau used the opportunity to call for people throughout the country to adhere to simple and basic personal hygiene practices to avoid contracting such diseases…
Hospitals prepared
Post Courier: story by Johnny Poiya
HOSPITALS in the Highlands are on red alert to cater for the cholera outbreak in the Morobe Province. All the five public hospitals held disaster meetings as of early this week and have prepared isolation rooms and staff to attend to people with the first symptoms of cholera…
Flu under control
Post Courier: story by Haiveta Kivia in Menyamya
PARTS of the Menyamya district affected by flu and dysentry are now under control. Morobe’s deputy health adviser and Menyamya relief team leader Micah Yawing reported on Tuesday night the outbreaks at Hakwange and Ikumdi were now under control…
Emergency
The National: story by Wallace Kiala
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…
Schools, food markets ordered to shut
The National: story by Daisy Taniova Pawa
ALL schools and all prepared foods in markets in Lae have been ordered closed as a precautionary measure against the spread of diseases. The order for the school closures was issued by the provincial administrator and chairman of the provincial education board, Kemas Tomala…