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Islands in focus: Whooping cough kills 55 Papuan children
The deaths of 55 children in Mbuwa district, Nduga regency, Papua, between November 2015 and January have been attributed to pertussis, or whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory disease
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he deaths of 55 children in Mbuwa district, Nduga regency, Papua, between November 2015 and January have been attributed to pertussis, or whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory disease.
'Based on the results of lab tests conducted by the Health Ministry the minister has announced that the deaths of the children in Mbuwa were due to pertussis,' said Papua Health Office head Aloysius Giay in Jayapura on Tuesday.
The illness continues to infect children in Mbuwa. Papua People's Assembly (MPR) member Luis Madai said five children had reportedly died from the disease between the end of December last year and early this month.
'Based on the report from the Nduga Health Office, 55 children died of the disease. The latest report stated that five more children died from the end of December to early January this year,' said Madai.
Since the deaths were reported in Mbuwa, the Health Ministry, the Papua Health Office and children's welfare groups have made strenuous efforts curb the outbreak.
