Hepatitis E outbreak hits Walvis
The Walvis Bay municipality has called on residents not to panic in the wake of a reported hepatitis E outbreak at the coastal town, saying the situation is being closely monitored and managed.
Public meetings were also scheduled in the Kuisebmond and Narraville community halls for yesterday and today, to shed more light on the outbreak.
The municipality's public relations office confirmed there were more than five confirmed cases at the town in one month, which constitutes an outbreak.
The municipality gave the assurance that its health section was monitoring activities at informal trade areas and settlements, and said intensive health education sessions and information sharing would be carried out within the next few weeks.
It has also launched campaigns to create awareness on food safety and good personal hygiene practices among residents and informal food traders in Walvis Bay.
The distribution of chlorine and soap for personal hygiene is underway, as well as the distribution of a leaflet in English and Oshiwambo covering the importance of hand-washing and street food safety.
The campaigns have been described as a great success, with public and informal food traders welcoming the information sharing and eagerly participating.
The municipality said its health section will continue to communicate with the health ministry on the hepatitis E outbreak and its status in Walvis Bay.
The ministry declared a hepatitis E outbreak in Windhoek in November 2017 and since then cases have been reported in other regions.
Otis Finck
Public meetings were also scheduled in the Kuisebmond and Narraville community halls for yesterday and today, to shed more light on the outbreak.
The municipality's public relations office confirmed there were more than five confirmed cases at the town in one month, which constitutes an outbreak.
The municipality gave the assurance that its health section was monitoring activities at informal trade areas and settlements, and said intensive health education sessions and information sharing would be carried out within the next few weeks.
It has also launched campaigns to create awareness on food safety and good personal hygiene practices among residents and informal food traders in Walvis Bay.
The distribution of chlorine and soap for personal hygiene is underway, as well as the distribution of a leaflet in English and Oshiwambo covering the importance of hand-washing and street food safety.
The campaigns have been described as a great success, with public and informal food traders welcoming the information sharing and eagerly participating.
The municipality said its health section will continue to communicate with the health ministry on the hepatitis E outbreak and its status in Walvis Bay.
The ministry declared a hepatitis E outbreak in Windhoek in November 2017 and since then cases have been reported in other regions.
Otis Finck
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