Diarrhoea claims 8 in Moz

2008-02-19 13:54

Maputo - At least eight people have died from diarrhoea related diseases in refugee centres in flood-hit Mutarara district in the central province of Tete, in Mozambique, said reports on Tuesday.

A further 400 cases had been reported.

Mamani Bunga, health director in Mutarara district told the daily Noticias that the cases of diarrhoea were accompanied by vomiting.

He said since last week that about 23 new cases were attended to on daily basis and added that teams from the ministry of health were working in refugee centres, teaching people to practice good hygiene as a way of cutting down the number of infections.

However, the situation was worsening. Cases were increasing and some patients were seeking medical attention because of severe dehydration, Bunga told the paper.

He said poor sanitation in most of the refugee centres - which had an insufficient number of toilets - was the main cause of the outbreak of disease.

Meanwhile, Radio Mozambique reported that 423 cases of cholera and two deaths were registered in the southern Gaza province since the beginning of the rainy season in December.

Carla Pales, Gaza provincial head of the health department, told the station that most of the cases were registered in the districts of Guija, Chokwe, Bilene and Xai-Xai city.

- SAPA