An autopsy has revealed that the first miner who died after falling ill while working at Guyana Manganese Inc’s (GMI) Matthews Ridge, Region One (Barima/Waini) location, succumbed to pneumonia.
Commander of ‘F’ Division Kevin Adonis yesterday told Stabroek News that the autopsy was done during the course of the week at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH). Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh performed the autopsy.
Stabroek News was also told by health officials that an autopsy was yesterday performed on the second manganese miner who died in Georgetown. However, the result from that examination was not made available.
Last Saturday, seven miners were air-dashed to the GPH after experiencing similar flu-like symptoms, which led to the death of their colleague, a Chinese national, at the Pakera Hospital in Matthews Ridge.
The miners reportedly fell ill during the course of last week and were admitted to the Pakera District Hospital with fever, headaches, joint pain, mild shortness of breath, unstable vital signs and moderate to severe respiratory syndrome. An additional six employees from the company were also air-dashed to the GPH on Monday in a move health officials described as a precaution. The employees, who comprise five Chinese nationals and one Guyanese and were exposed to the infectious area, were brought to the city after it was recommended that they seek medical attention.
Following a battery of tests conducted on the first batch of hospitalised GMI employees, two were diagnosed with leptospirosis. One of the two employees who were quarantined, succumbed on Thursday morning at the GPH.
The other miner diagnosed with leptospirosis remains hospitalised and his condition is said to be critical. He is being monitored and evaluated by an internal medicine specialist at the hospital.
The Ministry of Public Health on Thursday said in a statement that the GPH had discharged two Chinese nationals made ill by an outbreak of infectious disease at the GMI-owned tunnel in Matthews Ridge after successful treatment.
The Regional Health Officer Dr Vishal Ramjas had also disclosed that another GMI employee was admitted at the Pakera Hospital and is undergoing treatment for “a respiratory tract infection.” That patient is also in a stable condition, Dr Ramjas said.
Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Public Health Dr Shamdeo Persaud reiterated that “all precautionary measures are still in place at the Matthews Ridge tunnel site and the immediate surroundings and essential medical supplies are in stock to treat employees of the mining firm and residents of the area.”
Since last week’s outbreak, the health ministry said that the area has been deemed a “Red Zone” and “no one is allowed to enter the site.”
The ministry had said on Monday that tests conducted on the first set of employees ruled out the Swine Flu strain of the H1N1 virus as well as Zika, Chikungunya, Dengue, and Influenza A and B, as the cause of the illness that had befallen the miners. However, it noted that two of the patients had tested positive for Leptospirosis, which is known to be spread through direct contact with infected animal urine or faeces.
Stabroek News was told that tunnels at the mines had been closed since 1961 and were reopened on March 19th. A total of 15 GMI employees were working in the area at the time.
