Mysterious illness claims fourth victim in Morobe

THE death of young Martha Goroi from Kataipa village on Monday brings to four deaths caused by an unknown illness currently affecting people in ward six of Upper Waria in Garaina, Bulolo in Morobe.
Geni Primary School head teacher Iman Billy and villager Jimmy Elap raised the alarm at the beginning of the month after the death of three people.
The dead included a grade 3 student Sioi Thomas and three adults – Jaro Mamo and Moua Taia from Kataipa and Sai Mutai from Olmari villages. Two adults Vincent Bauai and Utai Javoi from Belaoka village are in serious conditions.
Billy said grade 8 female student Maisa James from Isam village was carried on a makeshift stretcher to Biaru to find a vehicle to go to Wau health centre.
Maisa’s father James Jaoi who lives in Wau, when contacted on Tuesday, said his daughter struggled for a week along the rugged Wau-Biaru-Waria road to reach Wau.
“Maisa arrived on Monday and we rushed her to Wau health centre and was diagnosed and admitted,” James said. “But cause of the sickness is unknown and we are likely to be transferred to Bulolo or Lae.”
Wau health officer Tobias Werip confirmed diagnosing Maisa but the actual cause of the illness could not be identified.
“The symptoms are like epilepsy with joint aches and cold and her body systems are not functioning well.
“It requires immediate testing and treatment at Angau Memorial Hospital” Werip said.
Morobe health adviser Micah Yawing said the health team was prepared to fly into Kataipa to assess and treat people.
“We talked to Manolos Aviation to fly the team into Kataipa but with the one chopper, at the moment busy with the Sarawaget Range tragedy, the team was unable to fly into Kataipa,” Yawing said.
He said his office would discuss with disease control officer Edwin Benny and Bulolo health manager Logan Yakam to ensure Maisa was transported soon to Lae for examination and to verify the cause of the illness and treatment.