Cholera Chronicle: October 28, 2009

October 28, 2009

Cholera is spread through human fecal contamination of food and water supplies. It is a frequent Disease of Disaster, accompanying famines, floods, wars, and other natural- or man-made disasters. Its victims – as many as several million each year(1) – typically are destitute, displaced or debilitated. And, all too often, dead.

Although its incidence waxes and wanes with the seasons, cholera never sleeps. So far this month, the disease has made its usual rounds in Africa and Asia. It has left death and diarrhea in its wake in Angola, Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Since early in September, cholera has killed 149 people in Nigeria, 59 in Tanzania, and 51 in Cameroon. Recent storms and flooding in the Philippines and Afghanistan have triggered outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases in both countries.

Cholera can be treated successfully, if adequate medical facilities are available. More importantly, outbreaks can be prevented, by providing communities with safe drinking water, and with sanitary disposal facilities for human waste.

2008 was the International Year of Sanitation. The World Health Organization partnered with other agencies to promote improvements in sanitation in underdeveloped areas of the world. But it will take many years before these efforts make a significant dent in the problem.

Until then, cholera will continue to thrive.

(1) Nelson, E.J., et al. 2009. Cholera transmission: the host, pathogen and bacteriophage dynamic. Nature Reviews/Microbiology, vol. 7: 693-702.

Cholera Chronicle: May 31, 2009

Welcome to the eFoodAlert Cholera Chronicle. Periodically, we'll present a summary by region of cholera news from around the world.

Cholera is spread through human fecal contamination of food and water supplies. It is a frequent Disease of Disaster, accompanying famines, floods, wars, and other natural- or man-made disasters. Its victims typically are destitute, displaced or debilitated. And, all too often, dead.

Africa

• Kenya, May 27 – A cholera outbreak on the outskirts of Nairobi has prompted government officials to close 20 food outlets in an effort to prevent the spread of the disease. Fourteen cases have been reported so far in this most recent episode.
• Swaziland, May 30 – Two 9-year old girls in the Lubombo region of Swaziland have been diagnosed with cholera and are undergoing treatment. Officials expressed themselves as surprised by the mini-outbreak, since the rainy season – when cholera is most likely to show its face – has passed.
• Zimbabwe, May 26 – The Red Cross reports that the country's cholera epidemic has slowed, but not yet stopped. Infection rates, which have fallen from their February peak, remain at a shockingly high 4.5% of the population. Red Cross officials predict that the number of confirmed cases soon will surpass 100,000; already this year, 4,283 people have died as a result of the disease.

Asia

• India, May 28 – A broken pipeline resulted in an outbreak of cholera and other diarrheal diseases in Kerala. Eight victims are thought to have contracted cholera. Four people have died in the district, but officials deny that their deaths are linked to the cholera outbreak.
• Vietnam, May 24 – The cholera outbreak, which began in mid-April, has infected 56 Vietnamese people so far. Despite the government's efforts at containment, cholera cases have been reported in 16 cities and provinces. Vietnam's northern neighbor, China, has strengthened its border surveillance in an effort to prevent the disease from spreading into Yunnan Province.

Cholera can be treated successfully, if adequate medical facilities are available. More importantly, outbreaks can be prevented, by providing communities with safe drinking water, and with sanitary disposal facilities for human waste.

2008 was the International Year of Sanitation. The World Health Organization partnered with other agencies to promote improvements in sanitation in underdeveloped areas of the world. But it will take many years before these efforts make a significant dent in the problem.

Meanwhile, cholera will continue to follow in the wake of world disasters.

Cholera Chronicle: May 20, 2009

Welcome to the eFoodAlert Cholera Chronicle. Periodically, we'll present a summary by region of cholera news from around the world.

Cholera is spread through human fecal contamination of food and water supplies. It is a frequent Disease of Disaster, accompanying famines, floods, wars, and other natural- or man-made disasters. Its victims typically are destitute, displaced or debilitated. And, all too often, dead.

Africa

• Zimbabwe: The United Nations reported on May 11th that the death toll for this 9-month outbreak has reached 4,271; at least 97,400 people have been infected with Vibrio cholerae since August 2008. The good news is that the number of new cases has dropped significantly – just 65 during April. Nevertheless, the conditions that allowed this outbreak to spin out of control are still in place. Zimbabwe suffers from inadequate medical facilities, inadequate sewage treatment, and and inadequate supply of fresh, safe drinking water. Mugabe inherited a system that worked. When he eventually steps down – or dies – he will bequeath to his successor a broken-down, dysfunctional national infrastructure.
  
• Kenya: The government is responding to limit the spread of an incipient outbreak of cholera in the capital city of Nairobi. Three cases have been reported so far. The city's water and sewage company also has responded, by moving to clean and repair the Nairobi sewer system, which typically suffers from an average of 600 sewage blockages and overflows per month.
  

Asia

• Vietnam: The country's annual tussle with cholera is well underway. Already, one person has died of cholera and 53 have been infected. At least 500 people have reported suffering from acute diarrhea. The outbreak has spread to 11 provinces so far. Some of the cases have been blamed on contaminated dog meat. As a result, the country has temporarily shut down a dozen or more dog slaughterhouses in an effort to contain the outbreak. 
  

Cholera can be treated successfully, if adequate medical facilities are available. More importantly, outbreaks can be prevented, by providing communities with safe drinking water, and with sanitary disposal facilities for human waste. 

2008 was the International Year of Sanitation. The World Health Organization partnered with other agencies to promote improvements in sanitation in underdeveloped areas of the world. But it will take many years before these efforts make a significant dent in the problem. 

Meanwhile, cholera will continue to follow in the wake of world disasters.

Cholera Chronicle: May 10, 2009

Welcome to the eFoodAlert Cholera Chronicle. Every Sunday, we'll present a summary by region of cholera news from around the world.

Cholera is spread through human fecal contamination of food and water supplies. It is a frequent Disease of Disaster, accompanying famines, floods, wars, and other natural- or man-made disasters. Its victims typically are destitute, displaced or debilitated. And, all too often, dead.

One troubling side-effect of the current influenza near-pandemic is the diversion of international attention and resources from the fight against cholera and other diseases that afflict the world's underdeveloped countries.

The World Health Organization, which had been providing regular updates on the status of Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak, issued its last report on March 23rd. At that time, the number of new cases reported weekly had decreased from a peak of approximately 8,000 to just 2,076.

Asia, Including Russia

• India, May 9 – Contaminated water in Hyderabad's district of Bholakpur has led to an outbreak of cholera in the state capital. An initial report of 10 confirmed cases has now grown to at least 16 victims. A two-member team has been dispatched from Kolkata to assist local health authorities in dealing with the outbreak.
  
• India, May 10 – Officials in Vijayawada have expressed concern that their city, too, might experience an outbreak of cholera similar to the one that has struck Hydrabad. Vijayawada, which has a slum population of 350,000 people and a 20-year old water supply system, is crisscrossed by a canal system that is susceptible to sewage contamination.
  

Africa

• Zimbabwe, May 7 – The United Nations warned that the country's cholera epidemic – finally is on the wane – will reignite if attention is not paid to renewing the countries water and sewage systems, which have collapsed from neglect under the Mugabe regime.
  
• Congo, May 8 – Health authorities in the southern region of Pool have reported 130 new cases of cholera since early April.
  

Cholera can be treated successfully, if adequate medical facilities are available. More importantly, outbreaks can be prevented, by providing communities with safe drinking water, and with sanitary disposal facilities for human waste.

2008 was the International Year of Sanitation. The World Health Organization partnered with other agencies to promote improvements in sanitation in underdeveloped areas of the world. But it will take many years before these efforts make a significant dent in the problem.

Meanwhile, cholera will continue to follow in the wake of world disasters.

Cholera Chronicle: May 3, 2009

Welcome to the eFoodAlert Cholera Chronicle. Every Sunday, we'll present a summary by region of cholera news from around the world.

Cholera is spread through human fecal contamination of food and water supplies. It is a frequent Disease of Disaster, accompanying famines, floods, wars, and other natural- or man-made disasters. Its victims typically are destitute, displaced or debilitated. And, all too often, dead.

Asia, Including Russia

• Malaysia, April 29 – A suspected cholera outbreak has landed approximately 50 people in hospital so far. Cholera has been confirmed in one patient. The source of the outbreak is under investigation.
  
• Viet Nam, April 28 – A second person – a 91-year old man – has been diagnosed with cholera in Hanoi. The patient reported eating dog meat, shrimp sauce and raw vegetables.
  

Africa

• Zimbabwe, April 26 – The cumulative tally of cholera victims has reached 97,198; 4,244 of the victims have died.
  
• Somalia, April 20 – Cholera has claimed 5 lives in the town of Bander Bayla, while at least 20 people died of the disease in southern Somalia in a single day (April 14th).
  

Cholera can be treated successfully, if adequate medical facilities are available. More importantly, outbreaks can be prevented, by providing communities with safe drinking water, and with sanitary disposal facilities for human waste.

2008 was the International Year of Sanitation. The World Health Organization partnered with other agencies to promote improvements in sanitation in underdeveloped areas of the world. But it will take many years before these efforts make a significant dent in the problem.

Meanwhile, cholera will continue to follow in the wake of world disasters.

Cholera Chronicle: April 26, 2009

Welcome to the eFoodAlert Cholera Chronicle. Every Sunday, we'll present a summary by region of cholera news from around the world.

Cholera is spread through human fecal contamination of food and water supplies. It is a frequent Disease of Disaster, accompanying famines, floods, wars, and other natural- or man-made disasters. Its victims typically are destitute, displaced or debilitated. And, all too often, dead.

Central and South America

• Paraguay, April 26 – The government has confirmed an outbreak of cholera that has infected five individuals, including four members of one family.
  

Asia, Including Russia

• Vietnam, April 22 – Health authorities are scrutinizing dog meat restaurants after the first cholera case of the season was confirmed in Hanoi. The victim, who is recovering, reported having eaten dog meat, shrimp paste and fresh vegetables the day before he fell ill.
  
• Myanmar, April 24 – Unofficial sources are reporting an outbreak of cholera in Yangon that has killed five people and sickened many more. While there has been no official confirmation, authorities reportedly have closed roadside food stands in the affected areas.
  

Africa

• Namibia, April 24 – The worst flooding in 40 years has Red Cross workers fearing an outbreak of infectious diseases, including cholera. The international aid agency's emergency response unit has set up facilities to provide sanitation needs for 20,000 people. But more than 54,000 Namibians remain temporarily homeless six weeks after the beginning of seasonal flooding.
  

Cholera can be treated successfully, if adequate medical facilities are available. More importantly, outbreaks can be prevented, by providing communities with safe drinking water, and with sanitary disposal facilities for human waste.

Last year – 2008 – was the International Year of Sanitation. The World Health Organization partnered with other agencies to promote improvements in sanitation in underdeveloped areas of the world. But it will take many years before these efforts make a significant dent in the problem.

Meanwhile, cholera will continue to follow in the wake of world disasters.