Local scientists probe jiggers outbreak
it disturbs the peace of the innocent residents in different areas of Kitwe. "Since council personnel is inadequate to cover all the entire city at once to monitor compliance with various regulations, members of the public are encouraged to report to the council officers about noise pollution offenders," Mr Kuseka said. By VIOLET TEMBO SCIENTISTS at the Tropical Disease Research Centre (TDRC) at Ndola Teaching Hospital are investigating an outbreak of Jiggers commonly known as amauundu in Bemba.
Research officer Osbert Namafente confirmed the development in an interview.
Dr. Namafente disclosed that the study was undertaken three weeks ago and currently the institution was working on the report pertaining to the outbreak.
He said the outbreak was reported to Ministry of Health and the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) and TDRC opted to carry out the investigations.
He explained that a flea commonly known as impantila was identified as the parasite transmitting the disease from animals (pigs) to humans.
“At the moment we are not able to release information to the public but at a later stage such information will be disseminated. We did the study three weeks ago and it was a five day study.
“We generated data now we are writing the report. It is a collaborative study with ZNPHI,” he said.
Meanwhile TDRC Director Modest Mulenga has emphasised the need to devise different policies in the elimination of malaria in the country.
Dr. Mulenga said it had been established that a certain type of mosquito different from the traditional one was spreading parasites between animals and human beings.
Dr. Mulenga pointed out that failure to improve the diagnosis process would make it difficult for the country to attain its target to eliminate malaria by 2020.
He disclosed that current evaluation indicates that malaria had disappeared in the southern part of Zambia.
“We have found that in Southern province malaria has disappeared. There might be a problem if malaria is eliminated in one part of the country, leaving other places prevalent. We must have different policies to handle this,” he said.