COTE D'IVOIRE: Major Outbreaks of cholera reported
Pastor Dale Morgan
*COTE D'IVOIRE: Major Outbreaks of cholera reported*
28 Aug 2006 15:35:00 GMT
Source: IRIN
ABIDJAN, 28 August (IRIN) - A string of cholera outbreaks have spread
through Cote d'Ivoire this year, with the most recent hitting the
country's economic capital, Abidjan, and leading the minister of health
to declare an epidemic.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) reported that statistics provided by Medecins Sans
Frontieres/Holland showed that there have been 321 cases of cholera in
the western part of the country since the beginning of the year,
including two deaths. Added to this are 40 reported cases and four
deaths in Abidjan, in the south of the country, since the beginning of July.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that causes severe dehydration
from diarrhoea and vomiting and is highly contagious. It is most
commonly contracted from infected food or water; poor sanitation
contributes to the spread of the disease. Epidemics typically occur in
Cote d'Ivoire during the rainy season, from July to September.
The first case of the season in Abidjan occurred in early July when a
fisherman returned from sea, vomiting and suffering from a severe case
of diarrhoea. He did not receive medical attention and died. Tests later
confirmed that he had cholera.
Since then, 26 more people were reported infected in the impoverished
neighbourhood of Port-Bouet in the south of the city, where another
person died. Within less than two months, the disease has spread to
three other neighbourhoods, with 14 new cases being reported and two
more deaths in August.
"The situation in Port-Bouet was under control and no other cases had
been reported 20 days after the first case. But then new cases were
discovered in a nearby neighbourhood," Dr. Jean-Baptiste Brindou, health
director for the district of south Abidjan, told the daily newspaper
Soir-Info. He added that since then, cases have also cropped in Abobo
and Yopougon, two of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in Abidjan.
"We provided warnings to the residents of Port-Bouet, but we can't
quarantine people. Their movements within the city could definitely have
had an impact on the spread of the epidemic. Since this is a disease
that comes from 'dirty hands' everything could have started from there,"
he said.
In response, the government has created local health committees in
affected areas to help control the spread of the disease. Public service
announcements have also aired repeatedly on state-run media, calling on
people to observe standard rules of hygiene. The messages remind people
to only drink water from reliable sources and avoid water sold in little
plastic bags, to disinfect raw fruits and vegetables, to properly cook
food, and be vigilant about washing hands after using the washroom and
before eating.