Up to 30 cases of typhoid fever diagnosed in Lebanon
By IRIN News.org
Friday, December 08, 2006
BEIRUT: There have been up to 30 suspected cases of seasonal typhoid fever in Lebanon over the past six to eight weeks and more are expected, health experts say. "Of these [cases], only 11 have been confirmed, but all are being closely monitored in hospital," said Assaad Khoury, a department director with the Lebanese Health Ministry.
Initial cases were confirmed by the World Health Organization's Early Warning and Response System, a team of health experts set up for the prompt detection of disease outbreaks.
The majority of typhoid cases so far have been in children aged 11 to 16. Although typhoid fever is potentially deadly, Khoury said it was unlikely there would be any fatalities in Lebanon because the condition, if detected, is easily treatable with antibiotics. The central authorities have also contacted hospitals and clinics across the country to warn them of the typhoid occurrences.
Typhoid fever is transmitted by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. Typhoid cases are reported every year in Lebanon with the onset of both the rainy season (from October) and the melting of the snow in spring (end of March to April).
"With the autumn rain, and with the melting of the snow in spring, contaminated water from the sewers comes up to ground level," said Khoury. "At present, there is nothing abnormal about the way in which it is spreading."
http://www.dailystar.com.lb
Because of its relation to sewage-contaminated water, typhoid infections have been heavily prevalent in rural, marginalized areas. All confirmed cases so far have been detected in South Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut and in the Eastern Bekaa region.
"These areas suffered through the war [of July and August] more than any other. Damage to sewage systems may, in theory, have exacerbated the problem. The fact remains that in these areas sewage systems were never very good to start with," said Khoury.
A panel of experts from the Health Ministry and public, private and teaching hospitals has been holding frequent meetings to minimize a potential surge in typhoid cases in Lebanon.
Steps proposed by the experts include raising awareness of health, food hygiene and general sanitation issues. "We have started asking people, particularly in the villages, to only drink pre-boiled water, and to eat their vegetables cooked," said Khoury. A media campaign is also planned, he said. - IRIN
By IRIN News.org
Friday, December 08, 2006
BEIRUT: There have been up to 30 suspected cases of seasonal typhoid fever in Lebanon over the past six to eight weeks and more are expected, health experts say. "Of these [cases], only 11 have been confirmed, but all are being closely monitored in hospital," said Assaad Khoury, a department director with the Lebanese Health Ministry.
Initial cases were confirmed by the World Health Organization's Early Warning and Response System, a team of health experts set up for the prompt detection of disease outbreaks.
The majority of typhoid cases so far have been in children aged 11 to 16. Although typhoid fever is potentially deadly, Khoury said it was unlikely there would be any fatalities in Lebanon because the condition, if detected, is easily treatable with antibiotics. The central authorities have also contacted hospitals and clinics across the country to warn them of the typhoid occurrences.
Typhoid fever is transmitted by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. Typhoid cases are reported every year in Lebanon with the onset of both the rainy season (from October) and the melting of the snow in spring (end of March to April).
"With the autumn rain, and with the melting of the snow in spring, contaminated water from the sewers comes up to ground level," said Khoury. "At present, there is nothing abnormal about the way in which it is spreading."
http://www.dailystar.com.lb
Because of its relation to sewage-contaminated water, typhoid infections have been heavily prevalent in rural, marginalized areas. All confirmed cases so far have been detected in South Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut and in the Eastern Bekaa region.
"These areas suffered through the war [of July and August] more than any other. Damage to sewage systems may, in theory, have exacerbated the problem. The fact remains that in these areas sewage systems were never very good to start with," said Khoury.
A panel of experts from the Health Ministry and public, private and teaching hospitals has been holding frequent meetings to minimize a potential surge in typhoid cases in Lebanon.
Steps proposed by the experts include raising awareness of health, food hygiene and general sanitation issues. "We have started asking people, particularly in the villages, to only drink pre-boiled water, and to eat their vegetables cooked," said Khoury. A media campaign is also planned, he said. - IRIN