DISASTER ALERT IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA: CHOLERA AND HUMAN

UNCLAS PORT MORESBY 000166 DEPT FOR EAP/EX DEPT FOR EAP/ANP BANGKOK FOR OFDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMED PP SOCI SUBJECT: DISASTER ALERT IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA: CHOLERA AND HUMAN INFLUENZA AFFECT HUNDREDS IN MOROBE PROVINCE ¶1. Summary: An outbreak of cholera and A(H3) seasonal human influenza in Morobe Province has affected hundreds, resulting in the deaths of 28 in August. . It marks the first time cholera has been confirmed in PNG. The Health Department has been working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) to deal with the outbreak, and seeks to declare the disease stricken districts disaster areas. End Summary. ¶2. August saw two outbreaks of disease in PNG's Morobe Province. In the first, WHO reported 93 cases and eight confirmed deaths from cholera in the northwest coastal district of Tewai-Siassi and Wasu village from early to mid-August. This marks the first time cholera has been confirmed in PNG. ¶3. The other Morobe outbreak took place in Menyamya, unrelated to the cholera outbreak. Over 100 people were affected by an influenza-like disease with some respiratory symptoms and bloody diarrhea in this remote area accessible only by helicopter. At first, health officials suspected H1N1 and treated cases with Tamiflu and other H1N1 medication, but a WHO team which took samples to Australia in late August confirmed September 3 that the dysentery is due to Shigella flexneri while the influenza-like-illness is caused by A(H3) Seasonal Human Influenza, not H1N1. WHO confirmed 20 deaths over the one month period although media reported `hundreds' apparently without foundation. . A WHO team and Health Department staff took additional supplies including antibiotics to the area this week ¶4. The Minister of Health Sasa Zibe is seeking a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to declare the two districts in Morobe province disaster areas. He wants a state of emergency declared in order to receive aid to contain the diseases. The Health Ministry has set up a command center in Morobe capital Lae to monitor the situation. WHO Country Director Dr. Eigil Sorensen informed us that there is a major operation underway that would include the Health Ministry, AUSAID, WHO and UN offices. They are concerned the situation will escalate if the diseases spread to Lae. BERG