Published Date: 2011-08-14 06:51:06
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Cholera - Somalia (04)
Archive Number: 20110814.227065
CHOLERA - SOMALIA (04)
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Fri 12 Aug 2011
Source: Statesman.com, The Associated Press report [edited]
http://www.statesman.com/life/health-medical/un-says-cholera-epidemic-in-somalia-1731634.html
World Health Organization officials said Friday [12 Aug 2011] that famine-hit Somalia faces a cholera epidemic as dirty water and poor sanitation are leading to an increase in outbreaks of the disease. Officials say cases of acute watery diarrhea -- an important indicator of the risk of cholera -- are now at 4272 in Somalia, an 11 percent rise on last week's [week ending 7 Aug 2011] WHO reported figure of 3839.
WHO public health adviser Dr. Michel Yao told reporters in Geneva on Friday [12 Aug 2011] that the number of cholera cases has also risen sharply this year [2011], with officials confirming 18 cases in the 30 lab samples taken in recent days from people living in the capital, Mogadishu. Yao said the 60 percent infection rate confirms there is a "high risk" of the disease spreading quickly, "so we can say we have an epidemic."
The random samples, which were tested in a lab in the capital, were drawn from among 4,272 samples from people who have suffered the diarrhea, he said. So far, he said, there have been 181 acute watery diarrhea-related deaths.
WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said last week [week ending 7 Aug 2011] that a few cases of cholera have been confirmed in Somalia and the diarrhea is also on the rise. She said of the 3839 reported cases, 77 percent afflicted children younger than 5 years old in Mogadishu.
The World Health Organization has said it is very concerned about disease outbreaks in drought-hit East Africa, due to a lack of clean water for drinking and bathing, overcrowding in camps and the low tolerance to disease of starving young children.
The United States estimates drought and famine in Somalia have killed more than 29 000 children under the age of 5. Millions face the risk of starvation amid Somalia's worst drought in 60 years.
UNICEF spokeswoman Marixie Mercado said Friday [12 Aug 2011] that tens of thousands of children have died and countless more are particularly at risk of cholera and other diseases because of drought and violence in East Africa.
[Byline: John Helprin]
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Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR
<promed-eafr@promedmail.org>
[Cholera cases continue to rise in drought and famine hit Somalia. There is need for urgent initiation of preventive measures as the consequences are likely to be grave.
A map showing the regions of Somalia can be accessed at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Regions_of_Somalia, and the HealthMap/ProMED interactive map of the country can be seen at
http://healthmap.org/r/01sN. - Mod.JFW]
See Also
Cholera - Congo DR (08) 20110812.227007Cholera - Mali (03) 20110808.226795
Cholera - Somalia (03) 20110806.226736
Cholera-Mali: (Mopti, Timbuktu) 20110801.226470
Cholera - 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 at
http://www.promedmail.org.
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (22): Asia, Africa 20110711.2094
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (19): Asia, Africa 20110704.2027
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (16): Asia, Africa 20110622.1910
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (15): Asia, Africa 20110617.1849
Cholera - USA (04): (NY): RFI 20110616.1840
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (14): Haiti, DR 20110606.1726
Cholera, diarrhea& dysentery update 2011 (13): Ukraine (DT) 20110603.1697
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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