By Samuel Aru Atekdit
The Warrap State Health Minister,Dr.Barach Malith Atem has declared the outbreak of Hepatitis E statewide following confirmed case recorded in Wunrok ,Twic county three weeks ago.
Minister Barach stated that two suspected samples were sent to Juba from Twic and one was found positive of Hepatitis E.
The Minister of Health in Warrap talked to Don Bosco radio during the official declaration and said that the disease was known for its diagnostic status in the state but the positive sample sent and return from Juba qualifies Hepatitis E presence in the statewide.
Minister affirmed that the in accordance to World Health Organisation policy, one case of Hepatitis E discovered in an area is qualified as an outbreak.
He narrated the precautionary measures government and health organisations is going to take to fight back the outbreak
He says their urgent plan as state health government is to train local health workers, enlighten also market agents like restaurant owners on preventive measures against the endemic disease
Minister says next week government and health partners in Warrap will meet in Kaucjok town to discuss the strategic plans to help respond to the challenging disease; hepatitis E.
Hepatitis E is a liver disease caused by infection with virus known as hepatitis E which is transmitted in via faecal-oral route and principally via the contaminated water
According to WHO, each year there are around 20 million cases of Hepatitis E virus with over three million acute cases of the virus and around 57,000 related death cases globally