Transmission of respiratory illnesses low, says Temu

National

THERE is a low rate of community transmission of respiratory illnesses including the Covid-19 in PNG, says Health and HIV-AIDs Minister Sir Puka Temu.
He told Parliament yesterday that there could be something contributing to the low rate of community transmission.
The World Health Organisation registry lists PNG as experiencing community transmission.
Sir Puka said the Covid-19 was a new pandemic which no one knew anything about.
“We still have seven deaths related to the Covid-19 and that number has been with us for the last three months,” he said.
“On an average, we are now registering positive cases at the rate of zero and one which is quite low.”
Sir Puka said PNG did not have a high rate of hospital deaths related to the Covid-19.
“Why the rate is very low in the country is subject to research that we have to undertake. And that research has to be medium to long term,” he said. Sir Puka said the good news globally was that the third phase of vaccine trials was yielding good results.

2 comments

  • It is just a more infectious influenza,
    It appears to be more temperature dependent with lower temperatures favouring its survival.
    That is why northern hemisphere is experiencing a second outbreak as it is autumn and approaching winter while things are improving in southern hemisphere as they came out of winter into spring and approaching summer.

  • I have raised this issue of mild infections with minimal impacts on health in relation to PNG context with evolving evidences in February 2020.

    I have given some anecdotal evidences for possible low transmission to be expected in PNG 2 months before the first lockdown. I have forecasted an economical strangulation if government makes panic and hasty decision. PNG medical fraternity were taking the popular view and approach.

    Today PNG realises how stupid their decisions were when initial evidences were there to avoid economic mass created by panic decisions.

    Temu as a Physician has been hiding behind a Police officer’s back and now he comes out to make a claim he even doesn’t know.

    A specious statement indeed to show up his eviscerated image among those of us who know the practice and evidences in Medicine

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