Staff Reporter
THE Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, on Wednesday announced the outbreak of typhoid fever but also the end of the Hepatitis E outbreak in the country.
According to the Minister, the first typhoid fever case was detected and confirmed on 27 January in Windhoek. Nine contacts, including three close contacts, were traced and tested for typhoid fever, following the report of the first case.
Two of the three close contacts tested positive for typhoid fever, which brings the total number of confirmed positive cases to three. The Minister stated that all three cases are a stable condition.
The Minister also announced the end of the Hepatitis E outbreak, which started on 14 December 2017 and claimed a total of 66 lives nationally. Twenty-seven, or 41%, of the Hepatitis E deaths were maternal.
Typhoid fever is transmitted through food and water that has been contaminated by the faeces or urine of an infected person. Among the common sources of infection is the consumption of polluted water, contaminated milk products and raw vegetables and fruits that have been contaminated by flies or handled by an infected person.
“Common risk factors in the development of typhoid fever are travel to typhoid fever endemic areas; poor hygiene practices; lack of sanitation facilities; proximity to flying insects feeding on faeces; contact with someone who recently suffered from typhoid fever; recent use of antibiotics and low immunity due to Diabetes Mellitus, uncontrolled HIV/Aids and other immunosuppressive conditions,” the Minister explained.
The symptoms include prolonged fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhoea. In some cases, the infected persons can develop rashes. Furthermore, severe cases can lead to serious complications or even death.
The Minister encouraged people who have the symptoms associated with typhoid fever to seek urgent medical care. The infection is confirmed by microscope analysis of blood, faeces and urine samples to determine the presence of the Salmonella typhi bacteria, which causes the condition.
“People can transmit the disease as long as the bacteria remain in their body. Most people are infectious prior to and during the first week of recovery, but 10% of untreated patients will discharge bacteria for up to three months,” the Minister explained.
The Minister stated that the reported typhoid cases do not meet the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) definition of an outbreak as the cases are not in excess of normal expectancy. Regardless, further investigations are ongoing and the public is urged to take the necessary precautions.
The public is advised to maintain good hygiene and sanitation, to consume safe drinkable water, prepare food in a hygienic way, reheat leftover meals before eating, avoid raw or uncooked food, and to seek medical attention without delay if they show any symptoms associated with the condition.
According to Shangula, a total of 8 092 Hepatitis E cases were reported by 4 February. Of these, 2 124 were laboratory-confirmed and 4 738 were epidemiologically linked to the confirmed cases. In addition, there were 1 230 suspected cases.
“For endemic conditions, an outbreak ends when the number of newly reported illnesses drops back to the number ordinarily expected. The Hepatitis E epidemiological curve in Namibia shows that Hepatitis E cases have consistently declined,” the Minister stated.
Despite the decline in cases, Shangula stated that Hepatitis E will continue to be part of weekly Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) reporting system from all districts and the system will remain alert to detect any rise in case numbers. Furthermore, new cases will be promptly and thoroughly investigated to respond in line with the prescription of public health.
“Namibia has a good track record in eradicating or eliminating outbreaks. Among them are plague, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, polio and now Hepatitis E. This gives me confidence and optimism that the same fate will befall Covid-19 as long as we get vaccinated and observe public health measures as announced from time to time,” the Minister said.
According to Ben Nangombe, the Executive Director of Health and Social Services, the fact that Namibia has eliminated so many disease outbreaks is representative of the dedication of Namibia’s entire health system.
