Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news...ng-students-to-png-warned-of-cholera-outbreak
Returning students to PNG warned of cholera outbreak
Friday, 15 January 2010 11:41
STUDENTS returning to universities in Lae and Madang, Papua New Guinea, have been warned of the alarming rate of cholera cases in the two provinces.
The National newspaper in PNG reported that over the past six weeks the pandemic has risen at an alarming rate especially in Lae.
More than 200 local students will be departing for the University of Technology (UNITECH) in Lae and Divine Word University in Madang over the next few weeks.
PNG?s cholera coordinator Dr Victor Golpak told the National newspaper that as the academic year is about to kick off it is important that students take heed of the dangers of the pandemic and take precaution when they return to school.
Mr Golpak said from the 159 cases reported in November last year, it has risen to 312 in just two months.
?It?s very alarming with such a big increase in six weeks,? he told the National newspaper.
Last year in October both universities have also warned students to be careful of what they were eating from the streets.
Last year the president of Divine Word University Fr Jan Czuba banned all cooked foods to be sold within and outside of the school premises.
He said that cholera would be difficult to control if it affects a university in PNG because of the fact that the students eat in the same dinning hall, share things and most importantly the unclean habits of students.
Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes can be severe.
A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium.
In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the faeces (stool) of an infected person.
The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water.
By DOUGLAS MARAU
Returning students to PNG warned of cholera outbreak
Friday, 15 January 2010 11:41
STUDENTS returning to universities in Lae and Madang, Papua New Guinea, have been warned of the alarming rate of cholera cases in the two provinces.
The National newspaper in PNG reported that over the past six weeks the pandemic has risen at an alarming rate especially in Lae.
More than 200 local students will be departing for the University of Technology (UNITECH) in Lae and Divine Word University in Madang over the next few weeks.
PNG?s cholera coordinator Dr Victor Golpak told the National newspaper that as the academic year is about to kick off it is important that students take heed of the dangers of the pandemic and take precaution when they return to school.
Mr Golpak said from the 159 cases reported in November last year, it has risen to 312 in just two months.
?It?s very alarming with such a big increase in six weeks,? he told the National newspaper.
Last year in October both universities have also warned students to be careful of what they were eating from the streets.
Last year the president of Divine Word University Fr Jan Czuba banned all cooked foods to be sold within and outside of the school premises.
He said that cholera would be difficult to control if it affects a university in PNG because of the fact that the students eat in the same dinning hall, share things and most importantly the unclean habits of students.
Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes can be severe.
A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium.
In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the faeces (stool) of an infected person.
The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water.
By DOUGLAS MARAU
