Namibia: Hepatitis E outbreak continues in Windhoek January 5 /update 1

Event

According to health officials, 167 confirmed cases of hepatitis E, including one death, were reported between mid-December and Friday, January 5, in the capital city of Windhoek. Namibian authorities, along with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), have launched a campaign to contain the spread of the disease.

Context

The virus is primarily transmitted via contaminated water. Although the infection generally goes away on its own within two to six weeks, it can worsen and develop into fulminant hepatitis (especially among pregnant women), which can be fatal. Symptoms of the disease include fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, itching, rash, or joint pain. In some cases, jaundice or hypertrophy of the liver may occur. No specific treatment is available.

Advice

Individuals in the affected region are advised to follow personal hygiene practices, such as regular hand-washing with purified water, and maintain adequate supplies of safe drinking water. Avoid drinking water and/or ice of unknown purity (tap water). ​