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CHOLERA, DIARRHEA AND DYSENTERY UPDATE 2009 (04): AFRICA
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A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
In this update:
[1] Cholera - Nigeria (Borno)
[2] Cholera - Tanzania (Tanga)
[3] Cholera - Zambia (Lusaka)
******
[1] Cholera - Nigeria (Borno)
Date: 23 Oct 2009
Source: All Africa.com [edited]
<http://allafrica.com/stories/200910230151.html>
Cholera Toll Rises to 70
------------------------
Borno, Nigeria, State Commissioner for Health Zubairu Maina yesterday
[22 Oct 2009] said the cholera epidemic that ravaged some parts of
the state about 2 weeks ago has so far killed 70 people.
Maina, who disclosed this at a press briefing, said Biu Local
Government Area recorded the highest causalities with 55 deaths out
of the 200 people that were infected. The commissioner added that the
disease had equally spread to Maiduguri metropolis, Gwoza, Dikwa,
Bama, and Askira/Uba Local Governments, noting that government had
adopted appropriate measures to offer effective treatment to victims
and curtail spread. He said in a bid to ensure eradication of the
disease and curb its spread, patients were isolated at several
admission and treatment camps.
"Presently, over 100 doctors and other medical personnel are
permanently deployed to Biu alone, while others are posted to the
remaining camps to cater for the patients," the commissioner added.
Maina said the situation was under control, stressing that besides
sufficient personnel on ground, adequate drugs and other necessary
medical facilities were procured and distributed to the camps.
"The outbreak of the disease was due to poor personal hygiene and
drinking of contaminated water, but government has taken the issue
seriously as it has unveiled bold steps to address the problem
through disinfecting the drinking water of the people and
enlightening them on the importance of personal hygiene," he said.
[Byline: Mustapha Isah Kwaru]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR
<promed-eafr@promedmail.org>
[Borno State is found in Northern Nigeria and can be located on the
ProMED/Health map of Nigeria at
<http://healthmap.org/r/00TS>. - Mod.JFW]
*****
[2] Cholera - Tanzania (Tanga)
Date: 23 Oct 2009
Source: All Africa.com [edited]
<http://allafrica.com/stories/200910230624.html>
Death Toll Rises As Cholera Spreads
-----------------------------------
An outbreak of cholera in northern Tanzania has continued to spread,
claiming 59 lives over the past 2 months. Health ministry officials
reported 60 new cases last week [week ending 17 Oct 2009].
"We have recorded 3454 cases of cholera in Tanga region during the
last 8 weeks," Nsachris Mwamaja, a spokesman for the health ministry,
said. He added that the most affected area was in Handeni District,
where health officials have attributed the outbreak to ignorance of
hygiene practices. Mwamaja said the government was making efforts to
check the spread of the disease to other regions such as Arusha,
Kilimanjaro, Coast and the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.
"Sufficient supplies of medicines and medical personnel have been
sent to the affected areas," he said. Seif Mpembenwe, Handeni
district commissioner, said schools that had been closed because of
the outbreak were expected to re-open in November [2009]. "We will
continue with sensitization campaigns until the situation improves," he said.
Mpembenwe said residents had been advised to dig and use toilets as
well as boil drinking water to prevent cholera, an acute illness
characterized by watery diarrhoea. The disease is caused by the
bacterium Vibrio cholerae and is spread by eating food or drinking
water contaminated with the bacteria. Health officials fear that the
long rains due now could lead to more cases of cholera if correct
hygiene is not observed.
Meanwhile, the country continues its efforts to curb the spread of
the H1N1 influenza. At least 1000 suspected cases have been reported,
mostly in the northern district of Mbulu. Blandina Nyoni, the
permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare,
said of the suspected cases, 339 had been confirmed from the 985
samples officially tested.
She said the disease had so far caused one death. The government had
stepped up preventive measures, including screening centres at entry
points and enhancing public education. "People should not panic,"
Nyoni said. "Much as we don't have vaccines for swine flu in the
country, there are adequate supplies of tamiflu antibiotics that are
used in the treatment of swine flu."
The influenza is caused by a viral infection. Its symptoms are
similar to those of influenza, such as fever, sore throat, muscle
pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR
<promed-eafr@promedmail.org>
[Handeni District is located in north east Tanzania in the Tanga
region, which can be seen on the map at
<http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/tanzania.pdf>.
The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Tanzania is available at
<http://healthmap.org/r/00UE>. - Mod.JFW]
*****
[3] Cholera - Zambia (Lusaka)
Date: 23 Oct 2009
Source: Lusaka Times (Zambia) [edited]
<http://www.lusakatimes.com/?p=19209>
Government to avert cholera outbreak
------------------------------------
Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Stephen Bwalya says government is
doing everything possible to prevent the outbreak of cholera and
other diarrhoea diseases in Lusaka. Mr. Bwalya says cholera pandemic
has become a perennial problem in Lusaka district and that government
through the district Commissioner's office is making every effort to
reduce the outbreaks this year.
Mr. Bwalya was speaking today [23 Oct 2009] during the Luska District
Disaster Risk Reduction Sensitization programmes at Twalumba Basic
School in Linda compound. Mr. Bwalya said the initiative taken by the
District to sensitize the school-going children in areas which
experienced the highest cholera cases last year [2008], must be
commended and should spread to all parts of the country.
He noted that the wash your hands with soap sensitisation campaign
started in Lusaka District is aimed at alleviating problems being
faced by the vulnerable people in the compounds. Mr. Bwalya said it
is important to educate the children on the need to keep their hands
germ-free so that the risk of infection is reduced.
And UNICEF, Zambia Communication for Development Specialist James
Simasiku said his organization will continue to support programmes
aimed at educating the children in the prevention of diseases such as
cholera and diarrhoea.
Mr. Simasuku said he was happy with the sensitization campaign as it
would go a long way in reducing waterborne diseases in children. And
in a vote of thanks, representative of Matero Member of Parliament
Elijah Chilmboyi commended Lusaka District Commissioner Christah
Kalulu, UNICEF and other cooperating partners for their positive
attitude towards hygiene. The sensitization campaign was carried out
under the theme "wash your hands with soap, your life is in your hands."
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR
<promed-eafr@promedmail.org>
[The ProMED/ Health map of Zambia showing Lusaka district in Lusaka
province can be seen at
<http://healthmap.org/r/00ax>.
[In this update, the cholera outbreaks in Borno, Northern Nigeria and
Handeni District in Tanga region, Northern Tanzania are reported to
be under control by the authorities despite the new cases and deaths
recorded in the recent weeks. Health care workers have been deployed
to attend to the sick, cholera kits have been supplied and community
sensitization on sanitation and hygiene is ongoing. In Lusaka,
Zambia, we see a paradigm shift from response to an existing outbreak
to proactively initiating measures to avert an eminent outbreak. This
is an approach that needs to be adopted by the rest of the areas at
risk for cholera outbreaks. This should go along way saving vital
resources and riding Africa of these annual outbreaks of cholera. - Mod.JFW]
[see also:
Cholera - Cameroon: (North) 20091024.203261
Cholera - Zimbabwe (03) 20091023.203230
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2009 (03): Africa 20091018.203150
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2009 (02): Africa 20091011.203025
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2009 (01): Africa 20091009.202994
Cholera - Nigeria (02): (Borno) 20091003.202860
Cholera - Uganda (02): (Kasese) 20091002.202854]
[Additional background information on cholera is available from the
general ProMED-mail list. The postings below can be found at
<http://www.promedmail.org>. - Mod.JFW]
[Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2009 (26) 20091023.3653
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2009 (25) 20091009.3500
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2009 (24) 20090930.3411
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2009 (23) 20090921.3319
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2009 (22) 20090913.3223
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2009 (21) 20090819.2939
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2009 (20) 20090724.2616
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2009 (19) 20090720.2575
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2009 (18) 20090709.2469
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (2009) (17) 20090429.1620
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2009 (16) 20090310.0991 ]
...................................jfw/ejp/be
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