Published Date: 2012-06-10 09:28:55
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Cholera - Congo DR (05)
Archive Number: 20120610.262244

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CHOLERA - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (05)
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Fri 8 June 2012
Source: Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) [edited]
http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95604/In-Brief-DRC-cholera-outbreak-worsens

DRC cholera outbreak worsens
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A growing cholera outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed nearly 400 lives and affected more than 19,100 people since
January 2012, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

"The total number of cholera cases in 2012 is around 90 percent of cases reported last year [2011]. Since January 2011, 983 people have
died from the outbreak affecting eight of 11 provinces of the country," Yvon Edoumou, OCHA spokesman, told a news conference.

Since the outbreak started, more than 40,795 cases have been reported. Edoumou said the growing epidemic had put a strain on ongoing
humanitarian interventions funded mainly by a US$9.1 million grant by the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, which provides rapid response
grants for humanitarian emergencies.

Experts have blamed the continued spread of cholera in the DRC on poor hygiene, lack of awareness about transmission mechanisms, limited
access to protected and monitored water sources and a general lack of sanitation infrastructure.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR
<promed-eafr@promedmail.org>

[With eight (8) of the 11 Provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo affected by cholera outbreaks which were first reported last
year [2011], it will require substantial resources to initiate an optimal response in such a huge country. Concerns in relation to
limited resources for response continue to be echoed even now when substantial resources are required to contain the outbreak. With most
of the affected population living in communities without access to safe water and sanitation facilities; and not reached by response
teams, chances are high that these cholera outbreaks will be around for quite some time unless aggressive efforts are made to mobilise
adequate resources to optimise the current response.

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 athttp://healthmap.org/r/1Zu. - Mod.JFW]

See Also
Cholera - Congo DR (04) 20120405.247929
Cholera - Congo DR (03): (North Kivu) 20120312.245690
Cholera - Congo DR (02) 20120227.244407
Cholera - Congo DR 20120129.241575
2011
----
Cholera - Congo DR (14) 20111230.238566
Cholera - Congo DR (13) 20111215.237257
Cholera - Congo DR (12) 20111126.235805
Cholera - Congo DR (11): (Equateur) 20111111.235131
Cholera - Congo DR (10) 20111009.232088
Cholera - Congo DR (09): (Equateur) 20110925.230561
Cholera - Congo DR (08) 20110812.227007
Cholera - Congo DR (07) 20110801.226449
Cholera - Congo DR (06): WHO 20110723.226041
Cholera - Congo DR (05) 20110721.225943
Cholera - Congo DR (04) 20110715.225687
Cholera - Congo DR (03): (Budandu) 20110618.224043
Cholera - Congo DR (02): (Orientale) 20110413.220970
Cholera - Congo DR: (Orientale) 20110327.220252]
........................................................jfw/be