[afro-nets] Africa: Cholera outbreaks, Yr. 2005 updates

[A. Odutola <chpss_abo2@yahoo.com>]

Africa: Cholera outbreaks, Yr. 2005 updates
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Cholera is an acute intestinal communicable infection caused by
the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It has a short incubation period,
from less than one day to five days. The bacterium produces an
enterotoxin that causes copious, painless, watery diarrhoea.
This can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treat-
ment is not promptly given. Vomiting also occurs in most pa-
tients.

Cholera is spread by contaminated water and food and sudden
large outbreaks are usually caused by a contaminated water sup-
ply. Only rarely is cholera transmitted by direct person-to-
person contact. In highly endemic areas, it is mainly a disease
of young children.

The WHO reports that "in 1970 cholera invaded West Africa, which
had not experienced the disease for more than 100 years. The
disease quickly spread to a number of countries and eventually
became endemic in most of the continent." (WHO Factsheet, #107.
March 2000)

Hardly a month passes without cholera outbreak in one African
country or the other.

Below is a link to an on-going project to update credible re-
ports about cholera outbreaks in African countries for year
2005.

Africa: Cholera outbreaks, Yr. 2005 updates
http://www.datelinehealth-africa.net/betav1.0/news/detailnews.asp?news_id=13196

--
A. Odutola
mailto:chpss_abo2@yahoo.com