Facts and figures on cholera outbreaks in West and Central Africa
DAKAR (AlertNet) - Cholera epidemics have hit tens of thousands of people and killed more than 1,400 others in seven West and Central African countries since the start of the year, the U.N. office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs said in a report on Tuesday.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by bacteria contaminating food or water, prompting diarrhoea and vomiting. If left untreated, infected people can die of dehydration, sometimes within a matter of hours.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says cholera is preventable and treatable and that any death rate higher than one percent, as is the case in several countries, denotes problems in a health system.
Following are some facts and figures on outbreaks in the region’s various countries:
Cameroon: Nine of the country’s ten provinces have reported outbreaks of cholera, with a total of 10, 582 cases and 379 deaths as of mid-August.
Chad: There is a rapid spread of the disease from the west to the east of the country with a total of 11,345 cases and 340 deaths as of end of August. See story here.
Democratic Republic of Congo: A cholera epidemic that started in the east of the country has spread along the Congo River to the west, with 5,171 cases and 301 deaths as of 22 August.
Mali: Health authorities said there have been cholera outbreaks in three regions of the country, leaving 880 people infected and 36 dead as of Aug. 23. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has allocated 66 million FCFA (141,380 U.S. dollars) to support efforts to combat the disease in the country.
Niger: There have been outbreaks in about ten districts in the south and southeast districts of the country, leading to 1,008 people being infected and 26 deaths as of mid-August.
Nigeria: Reports say there have been cholera epidemics in 23 of the country’s 36 states, with 13,551 cases and 353 deaths as of mid-August.
Republic of Congo: There have been cholera outbreaks in four provinces in the country – Brazzaville, Cuvette, Likouala and Plateaux – with 341 people said to have been infected and 20 deaths.
Sources: The U.N. Office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO)
(Editing by Rebekah Curtis)
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