Hepatitis E outbreak confirmed

Health minister Bernhard Haufiku confirmed the outbreak of a rare form of hepatitis in Windhoek’s informal settlements today.
Nine people have tested positive for the Hepatitis E virus (HEV) since the first symptoms appeared in October, the ministry confirmed.
The disease has claimed the life of a 26-year-old woman, who died in November shortly after giving birth to a healthy baby who survived the ordeal, authorities confirmed.
After the HEV outbreak was officially declared on 14 December, multi-stakeholder emergency health teams have been dispatched to the impacted areas, including Havana, Greenwell Matongo, Ombili, Goreangab and Hakahana.
Overall, 26 people have been tested to date, with four negative results, and eight still pending.
Officials say containing the outbreak is manageable, if people ensure they regularly wash their hands and purify drinking water, as well as ensuring sanitised living environments.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), HEV is transmitted mainly through the faecal-oral route due to faecal contamination of drinking water.
“The risk factors for hepatitis E are related to poor sanitation, allowing virus excreted in the faeces of infected people to reach drinking water supplies.”
Jana-Mari Smith