DRC: Outbreak of Hepatitis E kills 13

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

*Plagues, Pestilences and Diseases

DRC: Outbreak of Hepatitis E kills 13 *

18 Oct 2006 11:46:21 GMT
Source: IRIN

KINSHASA, 18 October (IRIN) - At least 724,000 people in the Democratic
Republic of Congo's Equateur Province are at risk after an outbreak of
Hepatitis E, which has killed 13 people and infected 341 others since
July, an official of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO)
said.

Hepatitis E is a waterborne disease, and contaminated water or food
supplies have been implicated in major outbreaks, according to WHO.

A WHO epidemiologist, Dr Jean Robert Likofata, said on Tuesday in the
capital, Kinshasa, that four health zones around the town of Gemena in
Equateur were threatened by the disease, which has an incubation period
of between three and eight weeks.

He said the whole province was threatened by this epidemic because
Gemena was an "epicentre", as it is a market town, facilitating contact
with almost the whole population in the area.

Moreover, Likofata said cases of Hepatitis E had been recorded up to 65
km southwest in the health zone of Bwamanda; 105 km west in the Tandaba
zone and at least 44 km northwest in the health zones of Bogose and Nubea.

"This disease is transmitted through contaminated water, especially when
hygiene is not good when it comes to the washing of hands," Likofata
said. "And at this market, which dominates Gemena town, you have
businessmen coming from all around the province."

Likofata led a medical team to Gemena when the first cases were reported
in July, to inspect samples that were later sent to a laboratory in
Kinshasa.

Initially, Likofata said, the outbreak was suspected to be yellow fever
until the laboratory results confirmed it was Hepatitis E. He said those
affected initially exhibit flu-like symptoms, with high fever, nausea
and loss of appetite, which could last a week. The next phase is
yellowing eyes, pale faeces and dark urine consistent with liver
disease. There is no effective treatment aside from bed-rest and fluid
replacement, so prevention is key.

Besides sharing information about the disease's symptoms with staff in
the main health centres in Equateur, the medical team also conducted
awareness campaigns to inform the public about the importance of hygiene
in the prevention of Hepatitis E.