Haiti Report an Anthrax Epidemic
Medical and Biomedical Personeel in haiti, July 2024 Photo: @mariededee
July 25, 2024 Hour: 3:49 pm
The Ministry of Public Health and Population was alerted on 12 July to patients with symptoms in the town of Fort Royal, in Petit-Goave, at the southern entrance to Port-au-Prince.
Haiti will take emergency measures following the detection of 12 suspected cases of anthrax in the country, a government statement released by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dominique Dupuy.
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“All necessary arrangements shall be made to care for those who are contaminated, to decontaminate the affected areas, to vaccinate animals and strengthen the awareness of the population about this disease,” wrote the senior official on the social network X.
In that sense, he said that by instructions of the prime minister, Garry Conille, held an «important» meeting with the Ministry of Health and the local representation of the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).
According to the statement, the Ministry of Public Health and Population was alerted on July 12 of patients with symptoms in the town of Fort Royal, in Petit-Goave, at the southern entrance of Port-au-Prince.
«The first measures to contain the spread of the disease and ensure public health safety are already being implemented» and «health officials have been deployed to the affected area to monitor and manage cases», the document noted.
He also indicated that an epidemiological investigation is currently being conducted to identify the source of infection, assess its extent and «to implement appropriate prevention and control measures».
According to him, these cases arose after several people had eaten the meat of an animal that died suddenly. In this regard, the Ministry of Health urged the villagers to maintain hand hygiene with the use of water and soap; avoid contact with animals which have died unexpectedly or are sick; consult a health professional in case of symptoms of the disease or after contact with sick animals; inform local health authorities about any suspected case, and the vaccination of animals against anthrax, among others.
The most common symptom of anthrax is skin form, usually with black, painless ulcers on the skin.
This disease is a bacterial infection caused by Bacillus anthracis, which can affect humans through contact with contaminated animals or animal products, recalled the statement.
Autor: CC
Fuente: EFE