There is currently a public health emergency in Suriname. This is because of viral acute gastroenteritis or stomach flu, an infection of the stomach and intestines, caused by a virus. This poses a great risk, especially for young children.
Suriname’s health minister, Amar Ramadhin, calls on parents to be very vigilant when children show symptoms of fever, vomiting and diarrhea. It mainly concerns children between 0 and 5 years, where dehydration occurs very quickly in case of vomiting and diarrhoea.
“When children become dehydrated, they quickly get into major medical problems. We want to control this as much as possible,” the minister said. No medication is prescribed for a viral infection. The complaint is treated by stopping the vomiting and diarrhea with medication and by administering fluids to the child in the event of dehydration.
On Tuesday 9 August, an emergency meeting was held between the government, the National Hospital Council (NZR), paediatricians, the Public Health Office (BOG), the PAHO and relevant experts to discuss this urgent situation. It has not yet been confirmed which specific pathogen is responsible for this syndrome.
The diagnostics for this have already been started. The analysis of all cases is performed by epidemiologists and public health experts. For the time being, the ministry advises parents to be very vigilant and to contact the GP immediately if their child shows symptoms.
The emergency department faces major challenges when it comes to admitting and dealing with the large number of cases of illness at the moment. The minister appeals to the community to first take the children with such complaints to the general practitioners outpatient clinics, where they will receive further guidance. According to him, rapid help can be offered from the first line.
“We appeal to the general practitioners to take this outbreak into account. By extending the opening hours, they will be able to play an important role in the treatment of children with these complaints.” Minister Ramadhin indicates that with a faster approach, the general practitioners can already ensure that the children are treated correctly.
The NV Surinaamsche Waterleiding Maatschappij (SWM) has, in response to reports regarding the increase in cases of vomiting and diarrhea, mainly among children, that there is no reason for concern about the quality of the drinking water it produces.