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DIARRHOEA OUTBREAK; 11 CHILDREN DEAD

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MBABANE – The death toll of children that have been affected by the deadly diarrhoea virus stands at 11, but it is not conclusive.
The figure was confirmed by the Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Dr Simon Zwane.


Dr Zwane said even though he did not have the figures “what was reported to me today is that we have lost 11 children. We are still to compile the total figure.”
He clarified that the statistics were obtained from the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) and the Mbabane Government Hospitals.
He said a conclusive figure would be announced on Monday and that a team had been assigned to collect and record data from the various health institutions throughout the country.


Our sister publication, the Times of Swaziland reported that four children had died at the RFM Hospital by Thursday.
The deaths came after reports that the hospital treated about 200 children in a space of three days who were suffering from the diarrhoea which doctors termed as gastroenteritis.
Asked about the cause of the outbreak, Dr Zwane explained: “It is now winter and there is a lot of circulation of a virus, particularly the one that causes flu.


“Then there is also another virus that causes the diarrhoea which is known as rotavirus. That is the commonest cause of diarrhoea in children. It circulates mostly in winter.”
Dr Zwane said the circulation of the virus would be noted between now (July) and August.


He explained that such had been experienced in the country before. “Its intensity fluctuates from time to time. Every year, we have children suffering from diarrhoea, particularly in winter.


“Maybe this year it is a bit different. It is a bit higher. I may not know what might be the reason behind the cause,” he said. Dr Zwane said the infection strived on a dry season.


He advised that the nation should continue to be vigilant of the virus and people should take particular attention to hygiene.
“Infection is at its highest when hygiene is at its lowest ebb. We can only stress that people should pay attention to hygiene,” Zwane stressed.
The most affected were children under the age of five years, Zwane said.

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