Published Date: 2011-08-05 23:47:03
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Cholera - Somalia (03)
Archive Number: 20110806.226736
CHOLERA - SOMALIA (03)
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Fri 5 Aug 2011
Source: United Nations Radio [edited]
http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/2011/08/cholera-on-the-rise-in-drought-affected-somali-regions/
Cholera has broken out in drought and famine affected areas in Somalia, the World Health Organization has confirmed. The agency says that acute watery diarrhoea, a symptom of cholera, is on the rise in the country.
In drought hit Somalia, millions of people are at risk of cholera, an acute intestinal infection that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if not properly treated. The disease can spread quickly amongst malnourished children and in areas where there is poor access to clean drinking water.
WHO expert Dr Michel Yao says the deadly disease has now reached Somalia. "In Somalia, a few cases of cholera have been confirmed, but in most of the places, due to the security challenges, it is quite difficult to confirm."
Cholera causes watery diarrhoea, which is on the rise, particularly amongst children under 5. More than 3800 cases have been reported in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, a significant increase from last year [2010] according to the WHO.
Across the Horn of Africa, extensive population movements are causing the spread of infectious diseases, with UN agencies reporting mass outbreaks of measles in camps in Kenya and Ethiopia.
[Byline: Claire Doole]
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Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR
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[The population movements in Somalia have aggravated the cholera outbreaks that started early this year [2011]. It is therefore critical that these populations are helped to settle in designated areas where they can be provided with food, water, and shelter, as these are the main factors behind the mass movements. Cholera vaccines may be considered as an added intervention, as it may be challenge to provide adequate amounts of safe water and provide sanitation facilities for these mobile populations in the immediate term.
A map showing the regions of Somalia can be accessed athttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Regions_of_Somalia, and the HealthMap/ProMED interactive map of the country can be seen athttp://healthmap.org/r/01sN. - Mod.JFW]
See Also
Cholera-Mali: (Mopti, Timbuktu) 20110801.226470Cholera - Congo Republic: WHO 20110724.226042
Cholera - Congo DR (06): WHO 20110723.226041
Cholera - Congo DR (05) 20110721.225943
Cholera - Ethiopia: susp. 20110717.225753
Cholera - Congo DR (04) 20110715.225687
Cholera - Ghana (13): (Central) 20110714.225566
Cholera - Cameroon (06) 20110710.225350
Cholera - Nigeria (10): (Plateau) 20110630.224868
Cholera - Cameroon (05) 20110630.224867
Cholera - Nigeria (09): (Niger), confirmed 20110625.224562
Cholera - Cameroon (04): (North) 20110623.224466
Cholera - Cote d'Ivoire (04): (Abidjan) 20110621.224295
Cholera - Niger: (Tillaberi) 20110620.224197
Cholera - Congo DR (03): (Budandu) 20110618.224043
Cholera - Ghana (12) 20110612.223505
Cholera - Cote d'Ivoire (03): (Abidjan) 20110612.223483
Cholera - Cameroon (03): nationwide update 20110611.223478
Cholera - Nigeria (08): (Adamawa) susp, RFI 20110610.223396
Cholera - Zimbabwe (07): (Manicaland) 20110609.223393
Cholera - Uganda: (Hoima) susp, RFI 20110607.223117
Cholera - Nigeria (07): (Abia) susp. 20110602.222848
Cholera - Nigeria (06): (Abia) susp. 20110601.222697
Cholera - Somalia (02): Mogadishu 20110531.222482
Cholera - Cameroon (02): nationwide update 20110529.222455
Cholera - Mozambique: (Maputo) 20110503.221703
Cholera - Cameroon: nationwide update 20110502.221659
Cholera - Zimbabwe (06): (Manicaland) 20110502.221658
Cholera, diarrhea and dysentery (02) - Somalia 20110428.221508
Cholera - Congo DR (02): (Orientale) 20110413.220970
Cholera - Nigeria (05): (Taraba) susp. 20110408.220718
Cholera - Zimbabwe (04): (Masvingo) RFI 20110407.220677
Cholera - Ghana (11): (Central) 20110402.220489
Cholera - Ghana (10): (Eastern) 20110331.220420
Cholera - Congo DR: (Orientale) 20110327.220252
Cholera - Burundi: (Bururi) 20110322.220094
Cholera - Ghana (09): 20110320.220028
Cholera - Ghana (08): (Greater Accra) 20110318.219947
Cholera - Somalia (02): Mogadishu 20110531.222482
Cholera - Somalia: (Mogadishu) 20110312.219671
Cholera, diarrhea and dysentery - Somalia 20110228.219036
2010
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Cholera, diarrhea and dysentery update 2010 (53): Africa 20101115.215181
Cholera, diarrhea and dysentery update 2010 (52): Africa 20101107.214912
Cholera, diarrhea and dysentery update 2010 (51): Africa 20101028.214604
Cholera, diarrhea and dysentery update 2010 (50): Africa 20101023.214414
Additional background information on cholera is available from the general ProMED-mail list. The postings below can be found athttp://www.promedmail.org.
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011: (12): Haiti, DR 20110524.1579
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (11): Haiti, UN report 20110505.1392
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (10): Mexico (SI) alert 20110430.1334
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (09): Africa 20110419.1219
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (08): Americas, Asia 20110419.1216
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (07): Haiti, upswing in cases 20110413.1163
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (06): Americas, Asia 20110404.1040
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (05): Africa 20110403.1033
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (04) 20110222.0582
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (03) 20110128.0333
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (02) 20110118.0215
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 20110109.0101
2010
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Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2010 (30) 20101231.4608
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2010 (27) 20101109.4060
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2010 (13): Africa 20100807.2695
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2010 (05): Asia, Africa 20100219.0573
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2010 (04): Africa 20100216.0550
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2010 (02): Africa 20100208.0428
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