WINDHOEK, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Namibia recorded a 65 percent increase in new infections of Hepatitis E last year to reach almost 7,000 in total, the report issued Tuesday by Ministry of Health and Social Service on the deadly disease revealed.
New infections rose by 2,747 to 6,974 cases between January and December last year. The total number of people killed by the disease hit 59 since it first broke out more than two years ago.
The report warns that the primary obstacles hampering efforts to stop the outbreak included limited sanitation facilities and poor access to water.
According to the report, the number of toilets and latrines available to communities remains low and many people are still practicing open defecation.
"Available water at communal taps is not accessible to everyone because one has to buy the water and most of the community members cannot afford to buy the water, hence the use of water riverbeds," the report states.
