GPHC discharges two Guyana Manganese Inc. workers

Georgetown, MOPH – The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) successfully treated and discharged two Chinese national made ill by an outbreak of infectious disease at the Guyana Manganese Inc. (GMI)-owned tunnel in Matthews Ridge, Barima/Waini (Region One).

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Shamdeo Persaud who made the announcement early Thursday also disclosed that another ailing GMI employee died from complications associated with leptospirosis Wednesday night while undergoing treatment at the GPHC.

“We are saddened at the passing of another worker”, CMO Persaud said.

Another mining employee, who was also tested positive for leptospirosis, is in “critical but stable condition” an Internal Medicine specialist at the tertiary institution confirmed Thursday.

The latest casualty has doubled the number of manganese workers who have died from leptospirosis since the outbreak of infectious disease at the manganese mining tunnel at Matthews Ridge, in the Barima/Waini (Region One) interior location.

Regional Health Officer (RHO) Dr Vishal Ramjas said Thursday that another GMI employee was admitted at the Pakera Hospital and is undergoing treatment for “a respiratory tract infection”. The patient is also in a stable condition, Dr Ramjas said.

Meanwhile, CMO Persaud reiterated that “all precautionary measures are still in place at the Matthews Ridge tunnel site and immediate surroundings and essential medical supplies are in stock to treat employees of the mining firm and residents of the area.

Since last week’s outbreak, the area has been deemed a ‘Red Zone’ by Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) authorities and “no one is allowed to enter the site,” Dr Persaud reminded Thursday.