Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 28, 2008 News
Two suspected cases of leptospirosis are being monitored at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). This is a development which, Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said, was very much expected as a result of the flooding situation in some sections of the country.
He disclosed, also, that another suspected case has been transferred from a private hospital to the GPHC.
At a press conference yesterday, the minister reported that 68 cases of leptospirosis have been detected for the year, due to rainfalls which led to flooding during the period January to December.
The minister pointed out that the 68 cases detected for this year occurred in various areas around the country, and not in a single area.
Minister Ramsammy stressed that persons should not panic, but, with the media fraternity, should collaborate with the Health Ministry in order to stop the disease, which is in fact a real threat.
According to the minister, leptopirosis is a disease that is present in Guyana and will spike under certain conditions.
“People ought to be conscious of this…2005 was not so long ago, and we should not forget that people suffered much because of leptospirosis. It is true that we were successful in stopping the outbreak, but we do not want a repetition of 2005. It is present in the environment, and it will spread when there is a flooding situation,” Dr Ramsammy said.
He highlighted that whenever there is no rain or flooding situation, the incidence of leptospirosis is usually between zero and one; but can rise to between two and three cases when there is heavy rainfall.
“We have been monitoring during this kind of extended flooding situation, and we haven’t seen spikes as yet. We fully expect that there will be spikes (that is: a number that is above what we normally see). We will not be surprised if we find that…In fact, I will be quite surprised if we don’t find it.”
Because of the looming leptospirosis threat, the minister said, citizens in flood affected areas are continually being cautioned to stay out of the waters. He noted that of the 68 cases detected, most have occurred in places where there are markets, thus the victims were not necessarily persons who resided in the flooded areas.
“People throw meat, fish, all kinds of things, and rats come around, and then there is the amplification process where animals are affected; and somewhere between all of this we have the human beings,” Minister Ramsammy explained.
He disclosed that since the conditions during flooding situations are quite conducive to the spread of the disease, persons must take precautions by staying out of the water, using boots and also by applying oil-based ointments to their skin before entering the water.
Citizens are also being urged to boil or add bleach to their water before use, and to wash their fruits and vegetables properly.
But while every precaution has been taken to guard against the spread of leptospirosis, the minister said that the ministry has in place a prophylactic programme which will be introduced as soon as there is evidence of a spike in the incidence of the disease.
According to the minister, his ministry is very prepared in terms of stock levels and in the technical supervisory aspects of the programme. He added that volunteers have been alerted, should their assistance be required.
The volunteers, the minister said, are drawn from the various political parties and the religious body that had supported the ministry during the 2005 flood.
“We are not about, today or tomorrow, to start the prophylactic programme, but we could start this afternoon if we want to, because everything is in place to do so…”
The minister said that he is working closely with his technical officers, adding that whenever they feel it is necessary to start the programme, it will commence.
However, he noted that there should not be total reliance on prophylactic programmes, but rather, the behaviour of citizens should be channelled in such a way as to stop any potential outbreak.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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