Cholera reaches Murik Lakes

THE contagious cholera epidemic has reached Murik Lakes home of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare with 21 cases reported yesterday by the East Sepik provincial cholera response team.
The disease, which was first reported at Kambaramba village on the Sepik River, Angoram, two months ago, had spread rapidly to villages of Angoram district then to Wewak and has now reached Murik Lakes and some inland villages on the border of Bogia and Angoram districts.
Response coordinator Dr John Sairere met with his district coordinators in Wewak yesterday and asked each team to observe what was being set up at Angoram and do the same in their districts.
Cholera task force in Maprik would also be looking at engaging the district-based radio station, Central Sepik, as soon as funds were made available to help upgrade its facilities.
Meanwhile, Sir Michael and his wife Lady Veronica visited the province yesterday and presented a few boxes of medical supplies for treating cholera cases.
Sir Michael said he was not aware of the situation in the provinceand thought that only Kambaramba was affected but apologised after he learnt that the situation was worse.
“I thought it was only in Kambaramba but the report I see is much worse. I will still come again and help,” Sir Michael said.Meanwhile, the updates on the confirmed and treated cases of cholera supplied by the cholera response team as of
yesterday morning stood at Kabaramba 228; Moim 84; Angoram 52; Marienburg 3; Biwat 9; Wewak 36 and Murik Lakes 21. The death toll had increased from eight to 11.