Cholera in Lae

Update as of Sept 10:
This is just a short update on the numbers of patients involved.
There have been 244 cholera patients with 19 deaths (7.7% mortality which is relatively high - probably due to the initial lack of knowledge)
There are 6 of the 9 districts in Morobe Province involved with cases spreading to Madang and Eastern Highlands. (Gulf border unknown)
Menyama cases in previous post.

Update as of September 8:
Three of the Health Centres surrounding the city of Lae have been reopened. (Initially there were only 2 of the 6 clinics that were open as the others were closed for either renovations or due to security reasons (many are often held up by raskols to rob staff of phones etc)
A total ban on the sale of cooked foods in the market and road side markets has been imposed by the Provincial Government. Many schools are also closing as the schools have banned the sale of the cooked food the children eat that has been prepared by mothers and sold in the school grounds at lunch time. This will be the hardest impact on the communities.
A survey on Sanitation has been done in the Bumbu settlement (one of the most affected) Most people use rain water for consumption. Most people go to the toilet in the river or the bush around the settlement. The settlement areas will be visited by health staff and chlorination of water stores will be done for free.
PMV (Public Motor Vehicle) owners are reluctant and afraid to take sick people (showing cholera symptoms) to ANGAU Hospital. This caused the late arrival of a patient to the CTU (Cholera Treatment Unit run by MSF) this morning. He died this afternoon. It is vital that the Health Centres in the settlement areas of Lae are 100% functional to receive cholera patients and avoid them the trip into town for medical assistance.

Updated Numbers:
ANGAU Hospital (Lae) reports 14 new cases of confirmed cholera admitted over the last 24 hours. This makes a total of 48 admitted cases with 4 deaths. There are currently 13 people admitted in the Field Hospital.
The village of Mou and Bua have reported 5 cases of suspected cholera.
Tewai-Siassi: 14 new cases of cholera over the last 24 hours. Eight new cases were brought in from Tobac, a community about 50 Km. away from the original 4 villages affected. Accumulative number of cholera cases: 132, total deaths 9.
Menyama: No reports come in today. Although the radio systems are operating properly there is little in terms of reports coming in from the field. The newspapers reported alarming number of cases of what they call “swine dysentery” but there is no confirmation of these cases (and no one knows what swine dysentery is).


The areas labelled in red are most affected at this time with the Bumbu river being the common link.

September 4:

Medicine Sans Frontiers, MSF (Doctors Without Borders) have set up with the help of the Defence Forces a Cholera Treatment Unit in 4 tents at ANGAU hospital and have flown in more specialist personnel. World Health Organisation have also sent specialists.
This is the first incident of Cholera in PNG and because of this there are not many people that know what cholera is and what to do about it.
Awareness notices and 'toksaves' are spreading the news about prevention around the city.
The FIVE 'F's will be hopefully known by everyone soon.
Fluids (care of safe water with boiling and treatment)
Food (dont eat uncooked food)
Fingers (washing of hands)
Feaces (sanitation methods)
Flies (spread of disease through flies)