Cholera Incidence In West Africa Almost Doubles In Month – UN Health Agency
A month after noting an alarming increase in cholera outbreaks in West Africa, the United Nations health agency reported
today that the incidence had almost doubled to nearly 45,000 cases and fatalities rose sharply to more than 720, spurred
on by particularly heavy rains and increased population movement.
The UN World Health Organization (WHO), with international and national health partners, is providing technical support
to the ministries of health at the country and sub-regional level.
The agency is working to strengthen surveillance activities. Supplies for case management and chlorination of water have
also been dispatched to some of the countries.
The total number of cholera cases recorded in 2005 now stands at 44,979, compared with 24,621 at the end of last month,
in the affected countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal.
The death toll is now 724, compared to 401.