Cholera Epidemic Looms Large in West, Central Africa

The UN children's agency warned about one of the worst cholera epidemics looming large in the west and central Africa region, with over 85,000 cases reported leading to 2,466 deaths this year.

The UN children's agency warned Tuesday about one of the worst cholera epidemics looming large in the west and central Africa region, with over 85,000 cases reported leading to 2,466 deaths this year.

"The size and scale of the outbreaks means the region is facing one of the biggest epidemics in its history," said a UNICEF spokeswoman.

About Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine and is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

"The most significant increases in 2011 are in Chad, where it is the largest outbreak recorded, in Cameroon where nine out of 10 districts are reporting cases and in western Democratic Republic of Congo where case fatality rate is above five percent," she added.

In some districts, fatality rates are as high as 22 percent.

UN agencies also noted that outbreaks were occurring in places where cholera was not endemic.

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"You have cases happening outside of a typical cholera season, you also have them occurring in a wider geographical area.

"In central Africa, they just declared a cholera outbreak. They haven't had cholera in years. This means that people are less aware of how to prevent or respond to an outbreak of cholera," the UNICEF spokeswoman said.

Central African Republic Badly Hit by Cholera
A cholera epidemic in the Central African Republic has claimed 16 victims, a health ministry spokesman said Saturday, as another source said it had reached the capital.

In addition, high fatality rates are being recorded in places where cholera is not endemic.

"In the Democratic Republic of Congo, we have this year outbreaks in provinces that we have not seen in the last 10 years," said a WHO spokesman.

Red Cross Says Cholera Deaths in Chad 'Could Double'
The Red Cross has warned that without a response the number of people in Chad infected with cholera could double to 25,000 people from the 12,713 cases recorded so far this year.

"There we see a case fatality ratio much higher than in provinces where cholera was endemic like north and south Kivu," he added.

Source-AFP