Third cholera case confirmed in Cayo

A third case of cholera has been reported in the Cayo District. According to Luis Godoy, the Public Health Officer for the Cayo District, on Saturday a thirty-three year old woman from Succotz Village was confirmed with the disease. The latest incident follows the first cholera case, which was reported last week Thursday, after a seventeen-year-old young man from Benque Viejo Del Carmen fell ill after drinking water from the Mopan River. The second case was reported from the village of Las Flores after a man came down with diarrhea, vomiting and severe dehydration after he apparently drank water from the Roaring Creek. Godoy believes the source of the disease is waterborne, and suspects the rivers involved became contaminated when someone may have thrown feces or even vomited in the water. Presently a cholera Mobile Unit headed by Godoy is combing the Cayo District and has treated at least thirty people who have displayed symptoms of the disease. According to Godoy, because of their experience in 1994 and 1995, when a hundred cholera cases were confirmed, this time around they are not taking any chances and are treating all patients who have the symptoms as if they have the disease. In the meantime, medical authorities are asking the public not to drink the water from the Mopan River or Roaring Creek and to remember to wash hands after using the bathroom and wash all fruit, especially that purchased from across the border.