Cholera case found in Pom

National, Normal
Source:

By BOSORINA ROBBY

THE first case of cholera in the nation’s capital was confirmed at the Port Moresby General Hospital on Tuesday, Jan 26.
NCD Governor Powes Parkop announced at a press conference on Friday that the patient was not from Port Moresby.
Mr Parkop said the patient was an elderly West Sepik woman who resides in East Sepik.
The woman had flown into Port Moresby on Jan 22 to be with her family as a babysitter.
When she started getting sick, her family took her to the hospital where doctors diagnosed her with cholera.
She was discharged on Friday after her recovery.
The situation is under control and the patient has been stabilised and is now under five-day surveillance by the Health Department’s NCD health division.
Mr Parkop stressed that even though the disease/infection did not originate from Port Moresby, all residents need to now take precautions to guard against cholera.
“We must therefore not be complacent about our health and hygiene. We must be proactive and be vigilant always against diseases.
“I don’t want an outbreak here, like what happened in East Sepik, Madang and Morobe,” he added.
Mr Parkop said the authorities would also be cooperating with the Civil Aviation Authority and Air Niugini to set up messages to alert people to report to health centres where they could get help if they felt sick.
“If you feel sick, or have diarrhoea, go straight to a clinic or hospital,” he said.