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Eveline de Klerk
WALVIS BAY – The Ministry of Health and Social Services of the Erongo Region, several local authorities and the Governor's office are in a state of alert E, after four people were tested positive for the disease in Swakopmund
Cases were detected in Mondesa and DRC. Acting Regional Director of Health, Dr. Amir Shakir, said yesterday that there were 32 other suspected cases whose results are outstanding.
He explained that samples of the cases were sent to South Africa and that the diagnosis took about two weeks. Measures against the spread of the virus have already begun
Namibia has been fighting the disease since last October with more than 500 confirmed cases and at least 14 deaths since the beginning of the epidemic.
Hepatitis E is contracted fecally Cleophas Mutjavikua, governor of the Erongo region, said yesterday in New Era that he had been informed by Dr. Shakir, about whom he has alerted all cities and settlements in the area to educate residents.
"As we speak, we are on the verge of meeting urgently with all the mayors and health officials of the local authorities so that we can undertake an awareness camp," said Mutjavikua.
Dr. Lilliane Kahuika of the Division of Epidemiology, Ministry of Health, said yesterday in New Era that case detection is treated as an epidemic and will receive urgent attention.
Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) reports that although hepatitis A, B, and C are common in Namibia, hepatitis E is rarely diagnosed in the country.As a result, the country has limited capacity for laboratory diagnosis of hepatitis E.
In addition, the majority of cases of hepatitis E have been reported in informal settlements where living conditions are poor.
These areas are overcrowded and have access limited to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene
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