Diarrhoea outbreak in Kamarang contained – Norton

The Public Health Ministry has reported that doctors in Kamarang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) have been able to contain what seemed to be a sudden upsurge of diarrhoea.

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton
Public Health Minister,
Dr George Norton

On Monday, Public Health Minister Dr George Norton told the Government Information Agency (GINA), that a health team and the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), which visited the area, were able to put measures in place to handle the situation.

The minister reported that about 25 persons had shown signs of active diarrhoea but the medical team was able to control the situation and treat the patients. “At this point in time there is no person who has active diarrhoea. We had the medications on board, we had whatever was needed – medical supplies – and the doctors were on top of it,” Norton said.

Maternal and Child Health Officer, Ertenesia Hamilton, said that fourteen of the 25 cases diagnosed were children and those cases have subsided and are under surveillance.

Meanwhile, Norton opined that a limited supply of potable water which forced residents to use water from a nearby river may have contributed to the illness.

“We suspected it’s water-borne because the water is very low and the villagers tend to use the water for domestic purposes. We understand that the well that was supposed to be in that particular area was not completed,” Norton said.

According to the minister, the ministry is in communication with GWI which was visiting Kamarang to determine how early the well would be completed.

Norton said tanks with filters attached were distributed. “After filling the tank with water and you drain it through that nozzle it should be properly filtered and pure for human consumption,” Norton said.

The health team has collected water samples that will be tested to confirm whether the water from the river caused the diarrhoea.

A health team will remain in the area to carry out surveillance.