Morobe people dying of mysterious disease
Updated
Authorities in Papua New Guinea are investigating a mysterious disease that reportedly claimed the lives of more than 40 people in a remote District of Morobe province last week. Ten villages with no health facilities and poor road and communication links are reported to have been affected by the disease.
Presenter: Firmin Nanol
Speaker: Morobe Province Health Advisor, Dr Theo Likei
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While local media reports say 70 people have died from the mysterious disease, the Morobe Provincial Health Office has denied that. The Health Advisor Dr Theo Likei says that 20 people died of dysentery in the remote Menyamya District last week, and 21 died of a mysterious influenza-like disease. He says more than 800 people have been affected from nearly 10 villages. He says the worst affected are children and pregnant women.
The Morobe Provincial Health authorities say they have responded as soon as the reports of the deaths reached them. However Doctor Theo Likei says medicines could not be delivered on time as the area is so remote and there are no road links.
Officials from both the World Health Organisation and PNG's Health Department have visited the affected villages and will test samples collected, to determine the cause of the deaths.
