UPDATE: Cholera Far from Under Control in Zimbabwe

To date over 60,000 people have been infected with cholera, and more than 3,100 are dead. Despite international efforts to control the outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for additional, urgent measure to be taken, as the outbreak is still far from being under control.

Related Articles (more at www.HealthMap.org):

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2009/cholera_zim_20090130/en/index.html

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/World/Story/STIStory_332256.html

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/newsandpublications/press_releases/school-in-a-time-of-cholera-health-risk-threatens-return-to-school-for-zimbabwean-children

Human Infections of Avian Influenza (H5N1) on the Rise in Central China

Since the beginning of 2009, eight cases of highly pathogenic human avian influenza have been reported in China. Three of the cases have been confirmed to be from central China’s Hunan province. However, individual cases have also been reported from nearby Shanxi, Shandong, and Guizhou provinces among others. It is suspected that China’s winter weather is aiding in the spread of the virus.

While exposure to sick or deceased poultry continues to be the main route that humans become infected, experts warn that H5N1 may evolve into a form that can be easily transmitted from person-to-person. Since the beginning of a pandemic cannot be predicted, all contacts of avian influenza cases are closely monitored to ensure that the disease does not spread. In addition, epidemiologic investigations are carried out in each case to determine the most likely source of infection so that the appropriate actions can be taken such as the culling of poultry.

Why such concern about the spread of one type of influenza? Of the 37 cases to date in China, 25 of them have been fatal. With a case fatality rate over 65% a pandemic of H5N1 would surely have a devastating impact around the globe.

Related Articles (additional articles available at www.HealthMap.org):

http://apex.oracle.com/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:5724127436830768::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1010,75901

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_01_27/en/index.html

http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/content/view/10648

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_332738.html

Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever: Kaluamba village, Western Kasai province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is again dealing with an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus with 46 people suspected to be infected and 14 dead. Just last year, an outbreak of Ebola led to the deaths of 187 people in this same region of Western Kasai. Angola has closed its’ border to the DR Congo, and immigration officials in Uganda have been put on high alert.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a filovirus that is transmitted from person-to-person via blood, secretions, and contaminated objects. The resurgence of Ebola in this particular province has previously been linked to the consumption of primates such as the Bonobo. Once infected, fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat develop followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and in some cases internal and external bleeding. The mortality rate of the virus is typically between 50-90%, and no specific treatment or vaccine is currently available.

The Ministry of Health of the DR Congo along with a wide range of international partners, including the Congolese Red Cross (DRC), Médecins Sans Frontières (Belgium), UNICEF, and the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), have been working non-stop to contain the current outbreak. This advanced team continues to implement control strategies and is supporting outbreak field responses throughout the province.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/world/-/1068/513262/-/sej7gd/-/index.html
http://apex.oracle.com/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:1027139598241219::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1010,75616
http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2009-01-08-voa21.cfm
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/Uganda_on_alert_as_Ebola_fever_breaks_out_in_DRC_77551.shtml
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/VDUX-7N9SQW?OpenDocument&rc=1&cc=cod%20

Additional articles are available via www.HealthMap.org

Cholera Outbreak in Zimbabwe Continues

Cholera is caused by infection with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, and symptoms include profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. Without treatment, death can occur within hours due to dehydration and shock. The bacterium that causes cholera is spread by contaminated drinking water or food.

In Zimbabwe, the lack of safe drinking water, poor sanitation, deteriorating infrastructure, and reduced numbers of healthcare workers reporting to work have all contributed to the continued worsening of the current outbreak of cholera. Countless media reports and news from various on-line sources continue to emphasize the severity of the situation in Zimbabwe. A reported 31,000+ people have been infected and over 1,600 have died. While cholera can be successfully treated with the immediate use of oral rehydration salts, many have limited access to healthcare. This has pushed the case fatality rate from the typical 1% to 5.7% (up to 50% in some more remote areas).

Despite monetary aid pouring in from countries throughout the world and aid from the WHO, Doctor’s Without Borders, the International Federation of the Red Cross, and many others, the most recent week’s report showed both an increase in deaths outside health centers as well as an increase in cases over previous weeks. With the rainy season having just begun, the likelihood of further spread of the outbreak appears likely. The red bubble on HealthMap.org may remain over Zimbabwe well into the spring of 2009.

http://reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/SKAR-7MWJ59?OpenDocument
http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=911573
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0901/S00004.htm
More related articles available at www.HealthMap.org