Published Date: 2012-03-10 18:55:55
Subject: PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (08): Africa
Archive Number: 20120310.1065940

CHOLERA, DIARRHEA AND DYSENTERY UPDATE 2012 (08): AFRICA
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In this update:

[1] Cholera - Congo DR (Kivu province)
[2] Cholera - Uganda
[3] Cholera - Sierra Leone

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[1] Cholera - Congo DR (Kivu province)
Date: Thu 8 Mar 2012
Source: Radio Netherlands Worldwide (edited)
http://allafrica.com/stories/201203081121.html


A month-long water shortage in Goma has led to an outbreak of cholera. Poorer neighborhoods are suffering in this city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Cholera outbreaks regularly occur in Goma, capital of the DRC's Northern Kivu province. Yet, in the past few weeks the disease has spread rapidly, claiming over 50 lives. "Because of the shortage of clean water, we have to use the water from the lake for our daily drinking, cooking and washing. In our neighborhood, 3 children and 4 women have already succumbed to the disease," says Virginie Kahambu.

"Since the Rwandan refugee camps in 1994, where cholera was widespread, Lake Kivu has been a breeding ground for the cholera bacteria," says Dr Dominique Baabo, the provincial health inspector for North Kivu. "When there is a water shortage and people are forced to use the water from the lake, there is always a new cholera outbreak."

The current water shortage is said to be the result of the failure of the national water company [Regideso; Regie de distribution d'eau] to pay its electricity bill, which compelled national electricity company SNEL to cut its power supply. According to provincial Regideso director Deogratias Kizibisha Kabiona, the water shortage is caused by a failing pump.

Today, more than 300 million Africans lack access to clean water.

[byline: Melanie Gouby]

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[2] Cholera - Uganda
Date: Thu 8 Mar 2012
Source: Uganda Pulse [edited]
http://www.ugpulse.com/uganda-news/health/ministry-of-health-warns-of-cholera-outbreak/24364.aspx


The Ministry of Health has announced an outbreak of cholera in some parts of the country. On behalf of the director general of the health service Dr Denise Lwamafa says that 280 cholera cases have been reported in the districts of Kasese, Mbale, Sironko, Bududa, and Buliisa.

Dr Lwamafa promises that the Ministry of Health is undertaking a number of measures to control the spread of cholera and the other water-related diseases ahead of the rainy seasons. He says that surveillance and epidemiological programs will continue in the affected and neighbouring districts to detect cases for early treatment. The National Medical Stores (NMS) has disbursed the necessary drugs to the affected districts in case more cases are reported.

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[3] Cholera - Sierra Leone
Date: Thu 8 Mar 2012
Source: Bloomberg News [edited]
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-08/sierra-leone-cholera-outbreak-leaves-34-people-dead-more-ill.html


At least 34 people have been killed by a cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone, deputy health and sanitation minister Borbor Sawyer said. The West African nation has recorded 2137 cases of the bacterial infection since Feb 2012 in 3 districts in the north and south, he told reporters in Freetown, the capital.

[byline: Silas Gbandia]

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See Also

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (07): Africa 20120307.1063725
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (06): Africa 20120302.1057887
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (05): Africa 20120213.1040722
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (04): Africa, Asia, Americas 20120203.1031859
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (03): Africa, Asia 20120121.1014512
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (02): Haiti (GA) 20120112.1008336
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012: Haiti, DR 20120111.1007086
2011
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Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (38): Africa 20111203.3523
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (35): Haiti 20111011.3044
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (34): Tuvalu 20111005.2998
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (33): Africa 20111004.2987
Cholera, diarrhea dysentery update (32): Haiti, DR 20111003.2979
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (31): Asia 20110922.2875
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (30): Africa 20110921.2867
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (29): HAITI, DR 20110920.2856
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (28): Africa 20110830.2665
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (27): Africa 20110828.2634
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (25): Haiti, DR 20110823.2567
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (24): Americas 20110804.2349
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (23): Haiti, DR 20110726.2253
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (22): Asia, Africa 20110711.2094
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (21): Haiti, DR 20110710.2086
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (20) 20110708.2061
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (19): Asia, Africa 20110704.2027
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Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (09): Africa 20110419.1219
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
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