MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – World Health Organization (W.H.O) has said it has recorded 7,235 cases cholera since December 2017.
In a statement, the agency stated the cumulative total number of suspected cholera cases since the beginning of this outbreak include 46 associated death cases.
It said The outbreak has been contained in several districts in Somalia including Jubaland, Hirshabelle and South West State thanks to the implementation of the Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV).
The agency attributed the recent outbreak in Banadir to limited access to safe water and sanitation in areas where Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are living.
The statement said that WHO is committed to continuing to provide leadership and support the health authorities and partners in activities to mitigate the outbreak.
The disease surveillance system is managed by the electronic Early Warning Alert and Response Network (eEWARN) system with the support of WHO and is currently being expanded to all health facilities across the country.
The agency said it’s staff and the Ministry of Health continue to monitor outbreak trends through the eEWARN system and promptly investigate and respond to all alerts.
Cholera is an extremely virulent disease that can cause severe acute watery diarrhea. It takes between 12 hours and 5 days for a person to show symptoms after ingesting contaminated food or water.
Cholera affects both children and adults and can kill within hours if untreated.
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