The latest figures supplied by government officials bring the total number of people claimed by a dysentery outbreak in the three provinces to 177 — far outstripping the number of deaths recorded for cholera, another deadly disease gripping Morobe and which is slowly moving into the Highlands.
Authorities in Goroka went into action after the first case of cholera was confirmed in Asaro, where a Watabung man was diagnosed with the diarrhea like disease.
The man is said have been placed in quarantine in Goroka as the authorities step up efforts to contain the spread of the disease into the populous highlands region.
The Eastern Highlands provincial government established a task force to take the lead in containing the disease. While the battle moves into top gear to combat cholera, in the far flung Semberi and Andakombi areas in the Obura Wonenara district, 29 people were reported to have died from dysentery — 13 females, six males and 10 children.
