There have been no new reported cases of gastroenteritis in the North West District village of Baramita as the occurrence of the virus remains under control. This was confirmed by Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley and Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud who spoke to Stabroek News on Saturday.
At the beginning of January, the Ministry of Public Health had announced that it was monitoring the indigenous community after several cases of vomiting and diarrhoea were detected in the area. The gastroenteritis-like symptoms had landed an estimated 60 persons at the Baramita Health Centre early last month. So far, an 11-month-old child has been the only casualty of the outbreak.
While they could not say for sure how many cases are still in existence, the officials agreed that there have been no new reported cases of the intestinal virus. However, the regional medical team continue to monitor the cases which were previously reported as the situation has not yet been totally resolved. Ashley further noted that those who have been affected by the virus continue to respond well to the treatment being offered nonetheless.
The Government Infor-mation Agency (GINA) had previously reported that a technical team, including a doctor, and an Environmental Health Officer, has been on the ground assessing the situation and working to keep the outbreak under control. The team has visited 22 satellite villages in the region, where it has been distributing medication, hydration fluids, and water purification agents, such as bleach, to the residents.
According to GINA, a similar outbreak was experienced during 2013 in the North West District, involving a total of 529 residents from Port Kaituma and its surrounding communities. At that time, three persons had reportedly died as a result of the outbreak. Prior to that, there was an outbreak in 2009 and six residents died.
Meanwhile, the fight against the spread of the Zika virus in the Region has been complemented with the continuous fogging exercises that are currently underway.
Ashley explained that while the exercise has not yet been done in all the villages, Mabaruma settlement was the first to benefit. Other villages will be added to the list as the exercise continues to be extended to other areas in the region.
