AMMAN -- Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit visited Mafraq on Wednesday to check on measures taken by local authorities to preserve water quality in the area.
He also inspected the implementation of an action plan approved by the government on Tuesday to tackle water pollution in Manshiyet Bani Hassan and surrounding villages.
The premier's tour included artesian wells feeding the town and the surrounding areas where specialised teams are examining water sources supplying the reservoir.
During the visit, the prime minister announced that authorities will resume pumping water from the Zaatari station to area residents within 48 hours.
Meanwhile lab tests results conducted by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation on water samples from Um Al Lolo reservoir, which supplies Manshiyet Bani Hassan and Um Al Naam with drinking water, showed no evidence of pollution, Ministry Spokesperson Adnan Zu'bi said yesterday.
The ministry has stopped pumping water from about 39 artesian wells in the northern district to conduct lab tests to ensure the safety of these wells, the official added.
Zu'bi said these wells provide drinking water to citizens in Ramtha, Irbid, parts of Ajloun and Jerash, in addition supplying Amman with 800 cubic metres of water.
In a related development, a total of 38 new cases were registered at the Manshiyet Bani Hassan Health Centre during the past 24 hours, Mafraq Health Director Suleiman Affash told The Jordan Times on Wednesday.
"The cumulative number of citizens suffering from diarrhoea and high fever topped 887 since the outbreak of the disease on July 15," he added.
Affash said three cases were admitted to Mafraq Public Hospital while one case was transferred to King Abdullah I Hospital, stressing the remaining cases received treatment at the centre and left.
He added that health teams are touring neighbouring villages in the area to monitor the emergence of new cases.
Upon the health minister's directives, health education teams will start conducting house visits today to provide families of infected citizens with preventative medication to prevent the disease from being transmitted to them.
A report compiled by an investigation team formed last week by Bakhit revealed that the nonfatal parasite "cryptosporidium" was the cause of the outbreak which affected hundreds of villagers near Mafraq.
The team included researchers from the Royal Scientific Society, the Jordan University of Science and Technology and the Amman-based WHO's Centre for Environment Health Activities.
The Cabinet took several decisions based on the task force's findings to prevent the recurrence of the outbreak, such as replacing the area's water network as well as supplying local residents with water from different sources and sealing water sources supplying Manshiyet Bani Hassan and nearby Umm Al Naam until they are sterilised and safe.
In addition, local authorities in Mafraq instructed citizens of the two towns to empty their water tanks, while water tankers dispatched by water authorities will continue providing them with their needs.
By Hani Hazaimeh
© Jordan Times 2007
