Funeral custom linked to cholera deaths

FOUR people are dead and more than 20 others have received treatment after new cases of cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases broke out in the Ohangwena Region.

Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula says cholera was confirmed in two of the cases reported between April 3 and yesterday. It started when a villager of Onaame near Okatope Clinic died of a chronic illness on April 3.He was buried on April 7.”His mourning was attended by relatives from Xangongo and Ondjiva in the Cunene Province of Angola.It was confirmed that these locations have reported cases of cholera,” Shangula said.He said mourners traditionally wash their hands in the same bowl after a funeral and the disease was transmitted between the people.On April 5, the widow of the deceased contracted diarrhoea and 14 other mourners were treated at Okatope clinic and discharged.Another 19 mourners who attended the same funeral were treated at the Engela Hospital.Of the 19, eight were discharged immediately while 11 were hospitalised.Three of them died.The fourth person was confirmed dead yesterday.Shangula said the regional management team has started raising awareness of the outbreak in the affected communities.”Special attention is given to the practice where all mourners have to wash their hands in one bowl after the burial.This can facilitate transmission.The community is urged to use an alternative way of cleansing,” he said.Shangula said the situation remained under control and called on the public not to panic.Between December and January, another three people died of cholera in the Kunene Region.Cholera is a waterborne infection of the bowels caused by drinking water or eating food contaminated by vibrio cholera bacteria.The main symptom is watery diarrhoea resulting in dehydration.If left untreated, the disease can lead to death within 24 hours.It started when a villager of Onaame near Okatope Clinic died of a chronic illness on April 3.He was buried on April 7.”His mourning was attended by relatives from Xangongo and Ondjiva in the Cunene Province of Angola.It was confirmed that these locations have reported cases of cholera,” Shangula said.He said mourners traditionally wash their hands in the same bowl after a funeral and the disease was transmitted between the people. On April 5, the widow of the deceased contracted diarrhoea and 14 other mourners were treated at Okatope clinic and discharged.Another 19 mourners who attended the same funeral were treated at the Engela Hospital.Of the 19, eight were discharged immediately while 11 were hospitalised.Three of them died.The fourth person was confirmed dead yesterday.Shangula said the regional management team has started raising awareness of the outbreak in the affected communities.”Special attention is given to the practice where all mourners have to wash their hands in one bowl after the burial.This can facilitate transmission.The community is urged to use an alternative way of cleansing,” he said.Shangula said the situation remained under control and called on the public not to panic.Between December and January, another three people died of cholera in the Kunene Region.Cholera is a waterborne infection of the bowels caused by drinking water or eating food contaminated by vibrio cholera bacteria.The main symptom is watery diarrhoea resulting in dehydration.If left untreated, the disease can lead to death within 24 hours.