Somalia Launches Campaign To Tackle Cholera

Somalian health authorities on Friday launched a campaign to curb cholera spread that has infected about 60,000 in the country since the start of the year, reports WHO.

The health ministry launched the initiative in the capital Mogadishu which aims to educate at least one person in every household on preventing the disease and what to do when symptoms occur.

Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine and is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

The WHO's Horn of Africa team said there had been 60,000 cases of cholera and acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) in south-central Somalia since January, with 75 percent of cases among children under five.

In November alone there were 6,300 cases, the WHO's Christian Lindmeier told journalists in Geneva.

Although endemic in Somalia, the last major outbreak of cholera was in 2007 and since then improved hygiene and sanitation had led to a drop in cases.

Water Borne Diseases
Waterborne diseases are communicable diseases caused by diseases causing microorganisms in contaminated water. It is more prevalent during floods and in tsunami affected areas.

Massive population movements this year has increased the risk of diseases spreading, Lindmeier said.

Hundreds of thousands of Somalis have fled the country in search of refuge in neighbouring states amid the Horn of Africa's worst drought in decades.

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Source-AFP

Antibiotics may be Beneficial in Moderate Cholera
In contrast to the WHO recommendations, some researchers advocate the use of antibiotics in moderate as well as severe cases of cholera.