In this update:
Africa
[1] Cholera – Zimbabwe
[2] Cholera – South Africa (Western Cape province) NOT ex Zimbabwe [3] Cholera – Uganda (Arua) [4] Cholera – Nigeria (Niger state) [5] Cholera – Congo DR (eastern provinces) [6] Cholera – Malawi (Central Region) [7] Cholera – Botswana (Northeast, Central provinces) ex Zimbabwe Americas [8] Shigellosis, day care centers – USA (Ohio)
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[1] Cholera – Zimbabwe
Date: Thu 18 Dec 2008
Source: Associated Press [edited]
<http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hv0mXrSPZaqaNrRGTYuxAu1cBPWAD9552O1O0>
The cholera death toll in Zimbabwe has risen above 1000, the United Nations said Thursday [18 Dec 2008]. A total of 1111 deaths were recorded by Wednesday [17 Dec 2008], an increase of 133 in 2 days, the UN humanitarian office in Geneva said.
The latest figures, which are compiled by the WHO, also show that the number of cases has risen to 20 581 since the start of the cholera outbreak in August 2008. On Monday [15 Dec 2008], health officials had spoken of 18 413 cases and 978 deaths.
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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
[The number of cases of cholera in this catastrophic situation in Zimbabwe continues to rise dramatically, underscoring the need for rapid intervention. Since the last posting on 15 Dec 2008, there were
2168 more cases reported, with 133 more deaths.
[A map of Zimbabwe with provinces can be found at:
<http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/zimbabwe.pdf>.
The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Zimbabwe is available at:
<http://healthmap.org/promed/en?v=-19,29.9,6>. - Mod.LL]
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[2] Cholera – South Africa (Western Cape province) NOT ex Zimbabwe
Date: Thu 18 Dec 2008
Source: Independent Online [edited]
<http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=125&art_id=nw20081218161227791C711028>
A 4-month-old baby is being treated for cholera at the Karl Bremer Hospital in Western Cape, the province’s health department said on Thursday [18 Dec 2008]. Spokesperson Faiza Steyn said the child from Wallacedene informal settlement in Kraaifontein had been stabilized.
He was admitted on 6 Dec 2008.
“The specimen of this case was forwarded to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) for further laboratory analysis, to ascertain the strain of cholera that was identified,” said Steyn.
The child had no history of recent travel to Zimbabwe and or close contact with a cholera case. Laboratory investigations on contacts of this case were negative for the disease, said Steyn.
“It is not known at this stage where he could have got the disease from; but hot weather and poor environmental living conditions could be some of the factors,” she said.
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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
[In the report of cholera in South Africa, the Western Cape province was not included. This case appears clearly to have been acquired in the province which can be seen on a map of the country at:
<http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/southafr.pdf>.
The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of South Africa can be seen at:
<http://healthmap.org/promed/en?g=1085597&v=-26,29.5,5>. - Mod.LL]
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[3] Cholera – Uganda (Arua)
Date: Wed 17 Dec 2008
Source: The Monitor Online [edited]
<http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/health-and-living/Arua_battling_cholera_outbreak_76996.shtml>
The poor Arua residents are grappling with endemic cholera as the Oli Division in the Municipality is facing an outbreak of the disease in low-income neighborhoods.
In just a month, over 38 cases have been registered, mainly in the division, including 3 deaths district-wide. Statistics indicate that
28 people have been admitted at Oli Health Centre with one death case. “Oli Health Centre has become Arua’s referral hospital with overcrowding of patients,” the Municipal Health officer Dr Paul Onzubo said.
[Byline: Warom Felix Okello]
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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
[The Arua district is in northwestern Uganda and can be seen on a map at:
<http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/uganda.pdf>. The area borders with eastern Congo DR where cholera has also been occurring. - Mod.LL]
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[4] Cholera – Nigeria (Niger state)
Date: Thu 18 Dec 2008
Source: Nigerian Tribune [edited]
<http://www.tribune.com.ng/18122008/news/news16.html>
An outbreak of cholera in the Egbagi Majin village in Kede district of Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State has reportedly claimed
8 lives, one of them being the wife of the village head. A majority of those who died, according to a report from the village, were women.
Nigerian Tribune has learned that about 15 others were hospitalized as a result of the outbreak. According to a source in the area, the outbreak could have been as a result of contaminated water being drunk by the villagers who were just relocating after a flood disaster 2 months ago.
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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
[The Niger state of Nuigeria is in the west-central part of the country and can be seen on a map at:
<http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/nigeria.pdf>. - Mod.LL]
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[5] Cholera – Congo DR (eastern provinces)
Date: Tue 16 Dec 2008
Source: Int Fed of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) [edited] <http://reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EDIS-7MEM7V?OpenDocument>
Since early October 2008, high morbidity and mortality rates associated with a cholera epidemic outbreak have been registered in the Maniema, Katanga, North and South Kivu provinces. Ministry of Health (MoH) statistics show that more than 25 503 cholera cases had been registered, including 515 deaths in the localities mentioned below. The following are statistics from the MoH.
In Katanga province, more than 10 214 cases and 229 deaths have been registered and Red Cross efforts will be concentrated on towns such as Lubumbashi, Likasi, Kolwezi, Bukama and Kasenga localities where the mortality rate is very high. In the last week of November 2008, the Kipushi health zone was noted as one of the most affected, with several cases registered. A Red Cross team was sent to the field to assess the situation in the Kipushi health zone which is also reported to be badly affected.
In Maniema province the focus is on the Kailo, Alunguli, Kindu and Basoko health zones, where according to the Maniema provincial committee of the RCDRC, 189 cases and 11 deaths have been registered over the past weeks. This information has been confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In North Kivu, where ICRC is working, the health zones of Binza, Bwambizo, Goma, Karisimbi, Kirotche, Masisi, Rutchuru and Walikale are most affected, with nearly 8826 cases and more than 229 deaths registered out of a total population of 1 272 981 inhabitants. The possibility to carry out sensitization, disinfection, environmental hygiene and water chlorination is more difficult in this region due to the ongoing conflict. The numbers registered are those recorded in the local hospital and do not include those occurring in other health centres or at home. By the same period, well more than 5000 cases have been registered in South Kivu, with the most affected health zones including Minova (which shares boundaries with North Kivu), Nundu, Baraka/Fizi (which is an endemic zone), Kalehe, Ruzizi, Katana, Kabare, the town of Bukavu, Kadutu and Bagira. 1229 cases have been registered so far in these localities alone, and there are indications that this number is growing rapidly.
Overall, there is clear concern that the numbers are of a significant level and there is a serious risk of the disease further spreading in the 4 provinces already affected and also beyond. In which case, the RCDRC, supported by the International Federation, needs to be prepared to respond in those provinces not supported by the ICRC.
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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
[The provinces involved are along the eastern border of Congo DR and can be found on a map at:
<http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/drcongo.pdf>. - Mod.LL]
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[6] Cholera – Malawi (Central Region)
Date: Wed 17 Dec 2008
Source: African Press Agency [edited]
<http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=83244>
(subscription required)
Cholera in Malawi has claimed 5 lives and more than 80 cases have been recorded at the country’s privately-run Likuni Hospital owned by the Catholic Church in the capital Lilongwe, Director for Preventive Health in the Ministry of Health, Stone Kabuluzi, confirmed here on Wednesday [17 Dec 2008].
He told APA during an interview that the disease was fast spreading among the rural community and that the number of cholera cases had doubled at the hospital since the onset of the rainy season. “Today
[17 Dec 2008] the hospital has received 8 cases to increase the number to 88 cholera cases with 5 deaths,” he said.
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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
[The area is located in the Central Region of Malawi and can be seen on a map at:
<http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/malawi.pdf>. - Mod.LL]
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[7] Cholera – Botswana (Northeast, Central provinces) ex Zimbabwe
Date: Thu 18 Dec 2008
Source: Daily News Online [edited]
<http://www.mcst.gov.bw/dailynews/newsdetails.php?id=11842>
Botswana has so far recorded 8 suspected cases of cholera. Speaking at a media briefing at the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Shenaz El-Halabi, Director of Public Health said of the 8, only 3 have been confirmed to be cholera not 4 as reported in the media.
She said 1 case was confirmed in the Serowe/ Palapye area (Sekgoma
hospital) while the remaining 2 cases were confirmed in Francistown (Nyangabwe Hospital). All 3 cholera victims are from neighbouring Zimbabwe.
[Bylines: Kesentse Ketumile and Tshegofatso Sentsho]
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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
[Francistown is in the Northeast and Serowe in the Central Province of Botswana and can be seen on a map at:
<http://www.mapsofworld.com/botswana/maps/botswana-map.jpg>. - Mod.LL]
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[8] Shigellosis, day care centers – USA (Ohio)
Date: Tue 16 Dec 2008
Source: Dayton (OH) Daily News [edited]
<http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/12/16/ddn121608shigellaweb.html>
The Greene County Combined Health District is tracking an outbreak of the intestinal illness shigellosis that has hit several city daycare centers. The county had 36 cases of the bacterial infection so far in 2008. 20 of those have been reported since 1 Nov 2008 in a handful of Xenia daycare centers, said Amy Schmitt, communicable disease nurse for the health district.
Health officials are working with day care operators to combat the spread of the infections. “It’s never our mission to close anyone down,” Schmitt said. “We work with day cares to decrease transmission and prevent further infection.”
Greene County’s 3 dozen cases also seem minuscule compared with Montgomery County where 325 cases were reported in 2008, Schmitt said. Greene saw 8 cases of Shigella in 2007 and only 2 in 2006.
Warren County has had 4 cases reported in 2008, none of them in the past 2 months.
[Byline: Christopher Magan]
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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
[Greene county in Ohio is located in the southwestern part of this east-central state and can be found on a map at:
<http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/maps/ohio_map.html>. - Mod.LL]
[see also:
Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (53) 20081216.3949 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (52) 20081215.3940 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (51) 20081212.3906 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (50) 20081208.3854 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (49) 20081203.3803 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (48) 20081201.3776 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (47) 20081125.3716 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (46) 20081124.3708 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (45) 20081120.3662 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (40) 20081014.3253 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (30) 20080702.2019 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (20) 20080404.1240 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (10) 20080212.0563 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 (01) 20080104.0047
2007
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Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2007 (67) 20071231.4200 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2007 (60) 20071126.3824 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2007 (50) 20071023.3450 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2007 (40) 20070924.3164 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2007 (30) 20070830.2856 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2007 (20) 20070511.1509 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2007 (10) 20070302.0737 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2007 (01) 20070105.0047
2006
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Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2006 (52) 20061229.3646 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2006 (50) 20061215.3528 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2006 (40) 20061006.2862 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2006 (30) 20060724.2037 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2006 (20) 20060512.1352 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2006 (10) 20060303.0675 Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2006 (01) 20060106.0040] ……………………………..ll/ejp/dk
