Plagues, Pestilences and Diseases
Cholera epidemic in Africa spreading at 'alarming' rate
By ARTIS HENDERSON
The Associated Press
Thursday, September 30, 2010; 10:36 AM
DAKAR, Senegal -- An alarming number of new cholera cases have been
reported in the West African nations of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and
Nigeria, an international aid agency said Thursday.
While cholera is endemic to the region, far more cases than usual have
been reported, said the U.K.-based office of Doctors Without Borders.
Nigeria experienced its worst cholera outbreak in 19 years earlier this
month when 13,000 were sickened and nearly 800 died in two months. That
outbreak then spread to neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger, where
more than 300 people died.
UNICEF has said that Cameroon is suffering the worst outbreak of
cholera in 20 years.
Cholera is a waterborne bacterial infection spread through contaminated
water. It causes severe diarrhea and vomiting that can lead to
dehydration and death within hours. Treatment involves administering a
salt and sugar-based rehydration serum.
Some experts worry that recent flooding in Nigeria might lead to a
spread in cholera infections. Gautam Chatterjee, the aid group's head
of mission in Nigeria, said isolated cases have been reported.