Upper Mazaruni: An investigation into a gastroenteritis outbreak in the Chinoweing area situated in the upper Mazaruni District, Region Seven, which was detected during the latter part of last year, has been linked to the presence of toxins released into the waterway by dead and decaying worms. This is according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Health through the Government Information Agency (GINA). The Ministry has been able to deduce that the Yarrow fish may have eaten the worms which resulted in their death thus causing contamination of the waterways. As such the continued treatment of water has been recommended along the affected rivers.
Two high level teams from the Ministry of Health are set to visit the Region today to provide an update to residents on the results of the investigation conducted on reports of the outbreak nearly two months ago. The teams, it was noted, will also probe accounts of similar outbreaks in surrounding areas.
Led by Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, and comprising representatives from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, Regional Health Services, and the Environmental Health Unit, the teams are scheduled to depart Georgetown early today.
The investigation was spurred by the detection of dead fish and reports that there was an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis on November 4 of last year in the Chinoweing area. The following day the Ministry of Health on learning of this had dispatched an outbreak investigation team to the area. That team was led by Director of Environmental Health Unit, Dr. Ashok Sookdeo, and comprised a medical officer, a Medex, a laboratory technologist and a surveillance officer. These were joined by the three local health workers from the area. They conducted a medical clinic and treated about 110 persons including adults and children. Of these, 15 persons, eight males and seven females, all older than the age of five, were found with symptoms of gastroenteritis inclusive of vomiting and diarrhoea. Treatment was administered and all of the persons had recovered before the team departed the location on November 8.
It was discovered that 11 of the ill persons had consumed water from the Haieka or Mazaruni River, while eight had eaten yarrow fish from these rivers. Four had consumed both river water and fish.
The team also collected 26 stool and 44 blood samples from among patients and community members which were brought to Georgetown and tested at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) and at the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) laboratory in Trinidad for possible pathogens.
According to the Ministry of Health the results indicate that no significant gastrointestinal 
pathogen was detected from the stool samples and that one blood sample was positive for Hepatitis and two for Dengue. The health team also conducted an environmental assessment and found both dead fish and worms in the rivers. Samples of these were collected and sent to the Bio-diversity Center laboratory, but no results were obtained. Water sample from both rivers were collected and sent to the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department for testing.
The team also conducted health education sessions for the community and distributed educational literature as well as the supplies for the purification of drinking water. The community was advised not to consume fish found dead in the rivers.
Over the next few days, the investigative team will be in the area updating the residents on its findings and conducting additional education/ awareness sessions. They will also visit the surrounding communities of Kamarang, Jawalla, Phillipai, Quebanang, Waramadong and Kako to follow up reports of possible outbreaks.
In conjunction with the Toshoas and other leaders, the Ministry of Health will simultaneously host medical outreach activities and seek to address issues affecting the residents of these indigenous communities even as efforts are made to urge residents to always consume safe water and to desist from consuming fish and other foods that are unsafe.
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