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Published Date: 2010-09-17 10:41:46
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Cholera, diarrhea and dysentery update 2010 (45): Africa
Archive Number: 20100917.213255

CHOLERA, DIARRHEA AND DYSENTERY UPDATE 2010 (45): AFRICA
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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In this update:
[1] Cholera - Benin
[2] Cholera - DR Congo (South Kivu)
[3] Cholera - Nigeria (Katsina)
[4] Cholera - Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad

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[1] Cholera - Benin
Date: Fri 27 Sep 2010
Source: AFRISCOOP.NET, Xinhua News Agency report [original French,
machine translated; edited]
http://www.afriscoop.net/journal/spip.php?breve3868

A cholera epidemic has struck Cotonou, Benin's economic capital, for
several days and has affected 192 people with 7 deaths, the national
press reported Thursday [26 Sep 2010]. State television showed
pictures Thursday of inpatients admitted as an emergency or in a
special treatment center opened in Cotonou.

"We are already overwhelmed," said Dr. Flora Ogoubiyi. The doctor,
head of the center, said that cholera is an illness linked to an
unhealthy lifestyle. According to Dr. Ogoubiyi, treatment in this
special center, managed by the Benin Ministry of Health, is free.
However, many patients will often arrive too late, especially when
they are already completely dehydrated.

Health officials are calling on people to take measures to avoid
being contaminated. These measures include the consumption of cooked
and hot food, the use of septic tanks for toilets, and the use of
oral re-hydration solution at the 1st sign of disease.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR

[The Republic of Benin shares its Eastern border with Nigeria, where
devastating cholera outbreaks have been reported in the last couple
of months. The current outbreak in Benin has been reported in
Cotonou, the economic capital of the country. The potential of
spreading in the capital is usually high since cities tend to attract
many people from the countryside. It is therefore critical that
sensitization campaigns are intensified in addition to other
interventions to contain the current outbreak.

An interactive map showing the 12 departments of Benin can be accessed at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin#Departments_and_communes. The
HealthMap/ProMED mail interactive map of Benin can be accessed at
http://healthmap.org/r/016m. - Mod.JFW]

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[2] Cholera - DR Congo (South Kivu)
Date: Fri 17 Sep 2010
Source: Radio Okapi [original French, machine translated; edited]
http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2010/09/16/uvira-les-humanitaires-s%E2%80%99activent-dans-lutte-contre-cholera/

The partners involved in the field of water and sanitation, deplore
the persistence of drinking water problems in the city of Uvira,
South Kivu. Many neighborhoods in this city are not supplied with
drinking water. This has caused new cases of cholera in this city.

Between the months of August and September 2010, more than 170 cases
of cholera were registered in Uvira. The 1st death was recorded, Wed
15 Sep 2010, at the cholera treatment center in Uvira. The patient
came from the village of Kibungo, south of the city, in a very
critical state. He died 24 hours after detection of the disease.

Humanitarian actors have complained that sanitary conditions have
become very poor after the resumption of rains. This coincided,
according to them, with the power outage for 5 days in the city of
Uvira. This has also led to the malfunction of the supply of drinking water.

During a special meeting emergency humanitarian workers have decided
to increase awareness on the ground. In total, 23 sensitizers are
deployed on several axes, the most affected city, namely Kilomoni,
Kavivira, Romba 1, Kabindula, Kalundu and Kigongo. These people will
strengthen other teams already deployed on site for the chlorination
of water from rivers and households.

For its part, the head of the NGO Action for Health, Environment and
Development says it delivered 400 gallons of liquid chlorine and 3000
bottles of 250 ml of chlorine. This is done in collaboration with the
international NGO Oxfam / Great Britain and Uvira health zone.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR

[Cholera has been reported in Uvira city, South Kivu, following the
onset of the rains and amidst water shortages due to a power outage
and poor sanitation. Good enough the partners are involved in
conducting community sensitizations and availing supplies to contain
the current outbreak.

A map showing the provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo can be seen at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo.
The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of the country is available
at http://healthmap.org/r/01a6. - Mod.JFW]

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[3] Cholera - Nigeria (Katsina)
Date: Thu 16 Sep 2010
Source: All Africa.com, Daily Trust report [edited]
http://allafrica.com/stories/201009160552.html

Cholera Kills 15 in Katsina
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A total of 15 persons have so far died while many others are in
hospital following an outbreak of cholera in Runka village of Safana
Local Government Area of Katsina State within the past 2 weeks.

Our correspondent who visited the village Tuesday [14 Sep 2010]
reports that despite series of interventions by government and
philanthropic organizations, victims still besieged the only heath
facility of Runka maternal and child hospital which also served about
20 more villages in the area.

A nurse at the clinic told this reporter that at the peak of the
outbreak, the facility admitted between 40 and 50 patients daily in
the 20 bed capacity hospital and most of them slept on mats or the bare floor.

Our correspondent observed men of the vigilante and other community
organizations in addition to a few casual staff who have taken over
the hospital, providing emergency services.

A village head of the area, Mohammed Lawal Alti (Magajin Runka), told
newsmen that the situation had constituted a major source of concern
to the community as the hospital admitted 5 to 10 people daily as a
result of the outbreak. He attributed the development to the recent
heavy downpour which washed up dirt into the pond which was the only
source of drinking water in the community.

He, however, commended the local council which supplied some vaccines
to curtail the outbreak as well as some community associations in the
area who also provided support for victims.

[Byline: Lawal Ibrahim]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR

[Highlighted here is a cholera outbreak in Safana, Katsina state,
where the only health facility has been overwhelmed by the scale of
the outbreak. It is clear that emergency staff and outbreak response
supplies are still lacking at the facility and hence a factor in the
15 deaths reported here. The situation therefore needs urgent
intervention to prevent further escalation.

Maps of Nigeria are available at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_of_Nigeria and the
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at
http://healthmap.org/r/01MI. - Mod.JFW]

******
[4] Cholera - Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad
Date: Wed 15 Sep 2010
Source: Afrique en ligne, PanAfrican News Agency (PANA) Press report [edited]
http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/cameroon:-who-advocates-cross-border-intervention-against-cholera-2010091556294.html

The resident representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in
Cameroon, Charlotte Faty Ndiaye, has called for a 'cross-border
intervention' involving Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad to tackle the
cholera epidemic that is ravaging the 3 countries.

Cameroon has recorded 417 deaths from 6239 cases, Chad has recorded
65 deaths from 10 040 cases while 614 have died from 11 359 cases in
Nigeria, according to Ms Ndiaye.

In Cameroon, the epidemic has mostly affected the North and Extreme
North regions, where 100 cases are being recorded daily.

"There is need to take cross-border actions in the 3 countries of the
sub-region affected by the epidemic for a more effective battle
against the disease," the WHO official said.

To help Cameroon to fight the epidemic, the regional bureau of the
WHO has put at its disposal 3 experts to reinforce the team in place
in the country, and created a controlling and coordinating centre of
cholera in Maroua, in the Extreme Northern region.

Nigeria has announced a plan to host a meeting of health ministers of
the affected countries to work out a coordinated approach to tackle
the disease.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[The idea of initiating a cross-border response to the current
cholera outbreaks in the West African region comes in handy to
complement the current country-specific cholera response initiatives.
The initiative provides an opportunity for synchronizing response in
the affected countries as well as curtailing the spread cholera to
other countries in the region.

A map showing the affected countries in West Africa is available at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LocationWesternAfrica.png. - Mod.JFW]

See Also