WINDHOEK, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The number of Hepatitis E cases in Namibia has risen to around 3,800 since the country declared the outbreak in December last year, an official said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Surveillance Officer Petrus Mhata confirmed on Friday on occasion of a social mobilization event held at Havana Primary School in the informal settlement of Katutura in the capital Windhoek.
Mhata said that despite efforts to control and contain the virus, it has since spread to at least six regions in the country and led to deaths of 33 people, 14 of which were pregnant women.
The Havana Primary School this year recorded 3 cases, but a local official said the affected students have since received the best attention and are on the road to recovery.
Friday's event, organized by the Chinese Embassy in Namibia, which partnered with local Red Cross society, aimed to educate local community and school children on the proper hygiene steps to prevent further spread of the disease.
Secretary General of Namibia Red Cross Society Bernadette Bock said at the event that they did not expect that after 11 months they would still be struggling to battle the outbreak.
"Despite the rise in cases, the Red Cross has been involved in information dissemination," She added. "Volunteers have been working around the clock going door to door to educate the different communities and encourage healthy hygiene practices."
Bock said that for the situation to change, the community has to change their mindset towards hygiene.
Meanwhile hygiene kits were donated to the Havana community by the Chinese business communities, which have since joined the fight against the outbreak.
Hepatitis E is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, principally via contaminated water and food. Enditem
