Officials mobilise, assess illness

MOROBE health adviser Micah Yawing is mobilising health officials to assess a suspected outbreak of an unknown illness which has resulted in three deaths in Upper Waria.
Yawing said Upper Waria in Garaina, Bulolo, was one of the challenging areas which does not have access to basic health, education, transport services or economy activities.
“Such outbreak is expected to occur anytime and requires immediate health attention to treat people, assess the situation and take samples to verify the cause” Yawing said.
Yawing is working hard to mobilise health officials from Bulolo and Lae to fly in with medicines for treatment and take blood samples to find the cause of illness.
“I am also advising area medical store to pack adequate medicines for the trip into Upper Waria” he said.
He said provincial deputy administrator, social services, Robin Bazinuc was in Bulolo attending councillors and presidents’ swearing-in.
“I advised Bazinuc to discuss with Bulolo district administrator Tae Gwambelek to assist in this suspected outbreak for immediate health intervention” Yawing said.
Gataipa village spokesperson Jimmy Elap said people were in need of food and medical assistance after frosts damaged garden crops and vegetables.
“Should we have an aid post, then a health worker may treat people affected by this unknown sickness.
“We’ve lost three lives already and another three are in critical condition now, ” Elap said. He said two adult males and a female died last Thursday and Saturday respectively.
“The grade three student died on Tuesday was named Sioi Thomas, from Belaoka village.”
Billy described the illness as similar to flu with cold and fever, headache, cough, dizziness then it caused them to lose weight within three-four days and later die.