Cholera, diarrhea and dysentery update 2012 (17): Afrika, Asia
A ProMED-mail post http://www.promedmail.org ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases http://www.isid.org
In this update:
Africa
[1] Cholera - Somalia
[2] Cholera - Ghana (Western Region)
[3] Cholera - Zimbabwe (Masvingo Province)
Asia
[4] Cholera - India (Maharashtra)
Africa
[1] Cholera - Somalia
Date: Mon 21 May 2012 Source: Press TV http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/05/21/242265/un-warns-of-cholera-outbreak-in-somalia/
The United Nations humanitarian agency has warned of a cholera outbreak in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, and south central Somalia due to unhygienic living conditions, Press TV reports. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported a steady increase in suspected cholera cases from 9 Apr 2012 to 6 May 2012 in southern and central regions of Somalia. Banadir region in southern Somalia accounts for 49 percent of the 777 cases reported in this period, representing an 11 percent increase from the week before the end of April 2012.
OCHA says that although these figures do not suggest a major epidemic, there are serious concerns of an increased risk of a cholera outbreak in Banadir region and the Balcad and Afgooye corridors, where there is a high density of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
"Most of the cases are IDPs, because of lack of water," Wardhere Hassan of the American Refugee Council said.
Somalia remains one of the countries generating the highest numbers of refugees and internally displaced people in the world.
A ProMED-mail HealthMap for Somalia can be found at http://healthmap.org/r/1Ahv.
[2] Cholera - Ghana (Western Region)
Date: Sat 19 May 2012
Source: My Joy Online
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201205/86873.php
The Jomoro District Directorate of the Ghana Health Service has appealed to government, benevolent societies and philanthropists to help acquire the necessary drugs to deal with the outbreak of cholera at Elubo. Madam Shallot Dankwa, Acting District Director of Health, made the appeal at Half Assini on Friday [18 May 2012] when he addressed the newly formed District Cholera Outbreak Rapid Respond Team.
Madam Dankwa said cholera cases at the Elubo Health Centre increased from 33 cases on 12 May 2012 to 110 cases on 17 May 2012, adding that 2 persons have so far died. She said 20 of the cases were brought from the Ivorian side of the border, adding that the outbreak was due to the pollution of the Tano River that serves as the drinking water for the people along it.
Madam Dankwa said drugs and other items for the treatment of cholera have run out at the Half Assini, and a request sent to the Western Regional Central Store at Effia Nkwanta in Sekondi for drugs has yet to receive attention.
Meanwhile, the directorate has started an awareness programme at the affected communities on the need to ensure environmental cleanliness and also urged them to boil their water before drinking it.
A ProMED-mail HealthMap for Ghana can be found at http://healthmap.org/r/1jUt.
[3] Cholera - Zimbabwe (Masvingo Province)
Date: Thu 17 May 2012
Source: Voice of America
http://www.voanews.com/zimbabwe/news/Health-Officials-Confirm-Cholera-Outbreak-In-Chiredzi-Amin-Water-Shortages-151928535.html
Officials in Masvingo province, southeastern Zimbabwe, have confirmed a fresh cholera outbreak in the sugar-producing town of Chiredzi which has killed 2 people since Mon 14 May 2012. About 100 cases have been recorded, and authorities are blaming the recurrence on serious water shortages.
The outbreak is particularly bad news for the town, which lost more than a dozen lives to the epidemic in 2011. Health officials have since deployed teams to administer treatment and assess the situation. Most people in Chiredzi rely on boreholes for drinking water, but many others use canal water meant to irrigate sugar cane plantations. Such water is highly susceptible to contamination.
Health officials said the fight to contain the disease is being hampered by serious food shortages in the area. Chiredzi Central lawmaker Moses Mare said the situation was tense as the population fears for the worst. He said the lack of properly working water purification pumps has heavily affected people in the area, as 2 pumps aren't functional, and the remaining pump has been stagnant.
Zimbabwe experienced a severe cholera outbreak beginning in 2008 that left at least 4293 dead by 2010. A deepening political and economic meltdown made it difficult for authorities to respond effectively.
[Byline: Obert Pepukai & Tatenda Gumbo]
A ProMED-mail HealthMap for Zimbabwe can be found at http://healthmap.org/r/1AY4.]
Asia
[4] Cholera - India (Maharashtra)
Date: Sat 5 May 2012
Source: IBN Live [edited]
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/2-die-50-hospitalised-due-to-suspected-cholera-outbreak/994899.html
District authorities have suspected an outbreak of cholera in Kalamb town, following the death of 2 senior citizens and hospitalization of over 50 persons.
Confirming the outbreak of cholera, Yavatmal Zilla Parishad CEO Navalkishor Ram said a team of employees from the district health department are moving door-to-door to create awareness among the people and also to identify patients. "Deployment of tankers has been ordered to supply potable water to the affected areas," he said.
The villagers have alleged that the pipelines supplying water to households in the town are old and that there are leakages at many places. "The water is being contaminated due to impure water mixing with the water in the pipe lines through the cracks. We have made complaints to the Gram Panchayat on a number of occasions but to no use," one villager said.
A ProMED-mail HealthMap for Maharashtra state in India can be found at http://healthmap.org/r/1*Oa.
See Also
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (16): Haiti, st switch 20120503.1121767 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (15): Haiti 20120502.1120308 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (14): DR 20120425.1112450 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (13): DR, Haiti 20120423.1107228 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (12): Africa, Asia 20120419.1106799 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (11): Africa, Asia 20120405.1091348 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (10): Haiti 20120404.1090431 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (09): Africa, Asia 20120402.1087425 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2012 (08): Africa 20120310.1065940 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
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 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (16): Asia, Africa 20110622.1910 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (15): Asia, Africa 20110617.1849 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