UN Appeals for Aid to Prevent Spread of Cholera in Africa
Posted on: Tuesday, 8 November 2005, 09:01 CST
UN appeals for aid to prevent spread of cholera in Africa
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Monday appeal for 3.2 million US dollars in additional international aid to prevent further spread of cholera in West Africa, which was hit by the disease this summer.
At the height of the epidemic late this summer, more than 42, 000 infected people, and 702 deaths, had been recorded across eight countries -- Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.
"It is essential that we contain this outbreak in the sub- region and assist national health systems to eliminate the epidemic in order to prevent its becoming a chronic problem and spreading to neighboring countries, including Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon", said Herve Ludovic de Lys, regional director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
While the situation in several countries appears to have been brought under control, the sub-region as a whole continues to require increased epidemiological surveillance and prevention support, OCHA said in a statement.
Many countries have seen the fatality rate of cholera decrease recently, yet the probability of renewed attacks is still high, particularly in Guinea-Bissau. There is also concern that the outbreaks could spread to other countries in Central Africa within the next few weeks, the agency said.
Cholera, an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, causes copious, painless, watery diarrhoea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly given. Vomiting also occurs in most patients.
Apart from significant human suffering, the disease disrupts social and economic structures and puts tremendous strain on already precarious national health systems. Seasonal factors, such as the rainy season, contribute to the disease's spread.
Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS
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