– Dr Roberts

By Svetlana Marshall
THE gastroenteritis outbreak in Baramita in the North West District is under control, says Dr Ronald Roberts – the medical doctor manning the lone health facility in the area.

In updating Guyana Chronicle on the situation, Dr Roberts said approximately 80 cases have been recorded to date. He pointed out, however, that the number of cases per day has dropped drastically, when compared to the initial stage of the outbreak.
“We are experiencing a reduction in the number of cases. In fact, we are seeing approximately five to 10 cases per day,” he said. Most of the gastroenteritis patients are from Central Baramita, Log Hill, Cassi Creek, Return and Golden City.
The outbreak was detected late last month and has since claimed the life of one person. Gastroenteritis is an infection of the digestive system. It is caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites found in water, food, or animals, which often result in a combination of diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, and headache. Dehydration may occur as a result.

PROPER HYGIENE
In a an effort to keep the numbers down, Dr Roberts and his health team of five, comprising a medic and other health workers, have been conducting community health meetings with emphasis being placed on maintaining proper hygiene.
“We have been focusing on preventative measures that can be taken and as such we have been encouraging persons to wash their hands and to chlorinate their water,” he explained.

Many of the affected communities have been visited with the exception of Return and two other villages.
According to him, the Baramita Health Centre is fully stocked and geared to offer medical assistance when the need arises but there is always room for more of the minute chlorine tablets.
“It is an ongoing intervention so I think there will always be a need for chlorine tablets but we have in stock.”

CASES DRASTICALLY REDUCED
Meanwhile, in a separate interview yesterday, Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud said as of Saturday, January 9, 65 gastroenteritis cases were recorded in Baramita. Of the 65 persons, 36 were males, 25 – females, 40 were under the age of 5, five between the ages of 5 and 12, and 20 were adults.
“We are still monitoring the situation but the number of cases has been drastically reduced,” the CMO said.
It was pointed out that water samples were taken from shallow wells and ponds in Golden City and Barama Lane, in addition to two households, a hotel and the health centre. According to Dr Persaud, all of the samples with the exception of those taken from the hotel came back positive for the presence of fecal coliform. “It means that the water was contaminated,” he explained.
In 2013, there was an outbreak in the North West District, where a total of 529 residents from Port Kaituma and surrounding communities were infected, most them children.
There were three reported deaths. At the time, studies had indicated that the disease irrupted due to the high levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli: bacteria found in the environment, foods, and intestines of people and animals) in the river and wells, which had been linked to the poor sanitary conditions throughout the sub-district. Prior to that, there was an outbreak in 2009, and six residents died.