Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012; 292 fatalities

[Ronan Kelly]

Cholera Outbreak Hits Kambia


By: SEM Contributor on June 19, 2012.
By A. R. Bedor

It has been reported that there is an outbreak of cholera in Yealie Boyah, Kambia town and some other parts of the District.

Over the weekend it was reported that over fifteen people died within the past three days including women and children due to mainly the lack of toilets, water facilities and limited drugs in the health centres.

Momodu Bangura, a boat captain who plied that routine disclosed to this reporter that toilets and protected water wells are only available at the Community Health Centre and the Church of God of Prophecy Primary School, Yealie Boyah.
...

http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/42917

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera Outbreak Hits Kambia, 15 fatalities reported

S.Leone cholera outbreak kills 62 in less than a month
(AFP) ? 16 hours ago
FREETOWN ? Sierra Leone's health ministry on Wednesday said an outbreak of cholera in the west African country has killed 62 people in less than a month.
The western area, including the capital Freetown, and "three towns in the northern and southern parts of the country have now been declared cholera outbreak areas", said a ministry statement.
"Emergency referral centres have been set up and hospitals and health clinics have been boosted with drugs to combat any escalation of the problem."
Between June 23 and Tuesday, 62 people have died and 3,721 cases have been reported in the areas concerned, statistics showed.
...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jkEwbUzzS7w6gliSQQyKE4SWwmcA?docId=CNG.011644044ab205dd97b782ce12dfd1d7.531

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012

Cholera claims two in Allen Town


By: SEM Contributor on July 24, 2012.

Two people are reported dead due to an outbreak of cholera in Allen Town in the outskirts of Freetown. (Photo: Dilapidated Allen Town health facility)

This outbreak of cholera has been attributed to poor working conditions as well as the dilapidated state of the health centre resulting to nine staff members abandoning the centre with lactating mothers, pregnant women and under-five children seeking medical care elsewhere. The center serves seven communities with an estimated population of over 3,000.
...
By A R Bedor

http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/44964

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012

Cholera ?alarming? as ?4,249 cases and 72 deaths reported

The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Haja Hawa Zainab Bangura yesterday revealed that the cholera outbreak is ?alarming, an emergency and it has to be addressed.?
The Minister who was speaking to journalists just after a snap tour of the facilities at the Connaught Hospital also confirmed that as of Sunday 22nd July the number of cholera cases in the whole country had risen to 4,249 with 72 deaths.
In the Western Area 14 deaths were reported between June 23rd when the first case appeared and 22nd July.
According to the Health Minister the first case in Freetown was discovered at No.35 Hagan Street in Marbella, in a house where the toilet was broken and people used plastic bags to dispose of their wastes.
However to Dr Dafae of the Disease Surveillance Unit of the Health Ministry the origin of the outbreak is Yeli Gboya. He explained that it is a fishing Island and does not have clean drinking water because wells dug in this area produce salt water which is not good for drinking, and therefore the residents there have to bring in water from the mainland which in itself is a serious challenge.
...

http://www.awoko.org/2012/07/24/cholera-%E2%80%9Calarming%E2%80%9D-as-%E2%80%A64249-cases-and-72-deaths-reported/

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012

Cholera Outbreak Kills Two at Mabela


By: Mohamed Kabbah Turay - SEM on July 30, 2012.

Community Health Officer (CHO), Adama Kondor of Mabela Health Centre has revealed in an interview with Sierra Express reporter that the Mabela community is currently faced with the challenge of a cholera disease outbreak which has already claimed the lives of two people.

According to the CHO, Adama Kondor she said they have been receiving reports of victims suffering from the cholera outbreak since Wednesday July 23, she explained further that ?ever since the symptom was diagnosed, the toll of cholera victims has increase in number in the Community and its surrounding areas,? she said.
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http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/45395

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012

Cholera claims 105 in Salone ?35 die in Western Area

The deadly contagious cholera disease has since its breakout in the country on 23rd June, this year has so far claimed the lives of one hundred and five (105) people, with thirty-five deaths recorded in the Western Area alone, according to the Manager of the National Disease Surveillance and Response.
Dr. Foday Dafae disclosed in an interview with Awoko yesterday, disclosed that between 23rd June and 31st July this year, one thousand nine hundred and sixty four (1, 964) cases were reported across the country with 35 deaths recorded in the Western Area alone. The Manager said the cholera outbreak started in the Kambia, Port Loko and Pujehun districts in January this year.
...

http://www.awoko.org/2012/08/03/cholera-claims-105-in-salone-%E2%80%A635-die-in-western-area/

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012

In Kambia, Cholera kills 3 & 5 hospitalized


By: Mary I Kamara - SEM on August 6, 2012.

The District Health Medical Team (DHMT) in the North has reported cases of widespread cholera diseases in that part of the country following the deaths of three victims and the hospitalization of five at the District Hospital.

Nurse Fatmata Kamara who works at the DHMT in Kambia said the disease has killed three people at a village called (Babuia) Samu Chiefdom.
...

http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/45754

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012

Cholera situation in Sierra Leone-10 August 2012
WHO/ UNICEF Sierra Leone

New cholera cases and deaths due to the ongoing outbreak,
continue to be reported in 8 of 13 districts in Sierra
Leone. By August 11, 2012, a total of 9,234 cholera
cases and 160 deaths have been reported by the Directorate
of Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) in
the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. The Case Fatality
Rate is 1.7% and the Attack Rate is 0.26%.

...

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO_UNICEF-Daily-updates12-08-12-cholera.pdf

[Shiloh]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012

Source: http://www.africareview.com/News/Sie...4/-/index.html

Cholera hits Sierra Leone hard, leaving 100 dead
By KEMO CHAM in FreetownPosted Tuesday, August 14 2012 at 16:46


Sierra Leone officials have announced that the death toll from the cholera outbreak was over 100.

The latest figures put overall cholera infections since February at 4, 249...

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012

WHO/UNICEF Sierra Leone
Cholera situation in Sierra Leone-13 August 2012

New cholera cases and deaths continue to be reported in the country. To date, 12 August 2012, a cumulative total of 9613 cases and 163 deaths have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), through the
Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS).
Case-fatality ratio (the proportion of cases that lead to death) based on reported cases remains at 1.7%, which is much higher than the recommended
<1% for a cholera outbreak.
The most severely affected districts in terms of numbers of cumulative cases from 1 January 2012, are Western Area with a total of 4374 cases and 57 deaths, Port Loko 2681 cases and 39 deaths and Kambia 1102 cases
and 28 deaths. On 12 August 2012, Western Area reported the highest number of cases (176) and deaths (2) followed by Tonkolili with 50 cases and 1 death and Bombali with 22 cases. It is alarming to note that cholera
cases are increasing significantly in the formerly low reporting districts of Tonkolili and Bombali.
...

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO_UNICEF-Daily-updates-Sierra-Leone-13-08-12.pdf

[Shiloh]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201208170927.html

Sierra Leone: Govt Declares National Emergency over Cholera Outbreak
17 August 2012

The government of Sierra Leone has reportedly declared a national emergency as a cholera outbreak in the capital Freetown and surrounding areas takes hold.

AFP reports a health ministry official as saying: "The decision followed a cholera situation report which revealed that a total of 176 people have so far died out of 10,800 reported cases recorded between January 1 to August 14 and signs of the disease spreading to various parts of the country..."

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012

Cholera situation in Sierra Leone-15 August 2012
WHO/UNICEF Sierra Leone

As of 14 August 2012, the cumulative number of cases and deaths were 10,400 and 176 deaths respectively. Eight (8) of the 13 districts in the country are now affected. On 14 August 2012, Western Area continued to report the highest number of cases (180) and deaths (4) followed by Tonkolili (26 cases and
0 deaths), Bombali (24 cases and 0 death) and Port Loko (21 cases and 1 death). WHO and UNICEF are greatly concerned about the recent upsurge in Port Loko, Tonkolili and Bombali and agreed on the need to rapidly scale up response.
This increase could be attributed to the heavy rains, the movement of people, improved surveillance and/or community awareness. It has been noted that patients are now seeking treatment at health facilities and cholera treatment
centers earlier than before which is critical in saving lives.
...

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012; 176 fatalities

Cholera situation in Sierra Leone-17 August 2012
WHO/UNICEF Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone, the situation with the current cholera outbreak remained critical. As of August 16, 2012, 10,905 cases with 184 deaths with a Case Fatality Rate of 1.7 was reported by the Directorate of Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
While data collection and verification have improved particularly in Western Area, there is need to heighten vigilance in those districts not yet affected by cholera for early detection and prompt action.
While the number of cases from Western Area is still high, it is noted that the areas where the initial cases were reported such as Mabela are reporting less and less cases. This has been attributed to intensified social mobilization and
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities.
The new areas of concern are Leicester Road and Blackhall Road were there is limited access to safe water. This shift of concentration of cases from the densely affected to the less densely affected areas calls for more attention
by the WASH and communication and social mobilization group.
Following rumors of cases in Kenema and Kono districts, WHO has sent an investigation team to assist the DHMT in verification of the rumors.
...

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012; 184 fatalities

Reliefweb

REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE
21 August 2012
Alessandra Vellucci, the Chief of the Press and External Relations Section, chaired the briefing, which was also attended by Spokespersons for the World Health Organization and the International Organization for Migration.
...
Cholera in Sierra Leone

Mr. Thomas said that as of 18 August the cumulative number of cases and deaths caused by cholera since January 2012 stood at 11,189 cases and 203 deaths. The recent confirmation of cases meant that 10 of the 13 districts in the country were affected by the outbreak.

The spread to two additional districts emphasised the need to rapidly scale up the response. As of 18 August, the Western Area continued to report the highest number of cases and deaths (157 cases and one death), followed by Tonkolili with 29 cases and no deaths.

The President of Sierra Leone had declared the escalating cholera outbreak a humanitarian crisis, said Mr. Thomas. Consequently a multi-sectoral response approach had been adopted, involving the Ministry of Health and Sanitations as well as other Ministries such as the Finance Ministry and local partners and stakeholders. A national emergency task force had been established to deal with surveillance, case management, water and sanitation, logistics and social mobilization.

The World Health Organization was supporting Sierra Leone in the areas of epidemiology, social mobilization and surveillance and its Regional Office for Africa had deployed two epidemiologists and three cholera experts from Zimbabwe to support coordination, public information, social mobilization, case management and infection control.

The World Health Organization did not recommending that any travel or trade restrictions be applied to Sierra Leone.
...

http://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpNewsByYear_en)/ECF5762D8916A554C1257A610049CB76?OpenDocument

[Giuseppe]

Re: Sierra Leone: Cholera 2012; 203 fatalities

[Source: World Health Organization, full page: (LINK).]

Cholera in Sierra Leone - update



22 August 2012


Since the beginning of the year, Sierra Leone has recorded 11,653 cases of cholera, with 216 deaths (Case Fatality Rate of 1.9%).

The rate of new cases has accelerated rapidly since the beginning of August: since then, 5706 cases have been recorded, and two new districts, Bonthe and Kono, have been affected by the epidemic .

Ten of the country?s 13 districts are now registering cases and this spread emphasizes the need to rapidly scale up the response.

The two most heavily affected districts are Western Area and Tonkolili.

The President of Sierra Leone has declared the escalating cholera epidemic a ?humanitarian crisis?. Consequently, a multi-sectoral approach to the response has been adopted involving the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), as well as other line ministries such as Finance, Information and Communication, and Local government, together with partners and stakeholders.

A National Emergency Task force has been established with sub-committees dealing with surveillance, case management, water and sanitation, logistics and social mobilization. The WHO Country Office (WCO) in Sierra Leone is chairing a weekly meeting of partners and stakeholders to better coordinate harmonize and strategize support.

The MOHS, in partnership with M?decins sans Fronti?res (MSF), UNICEF, WHO, and other partners, is implementing the following prevention and control activities: epidemiological investigation, surveillance, case management at established cholera treatment centres, water and sanitation control measures, social mobilization and community education.

WHO is supporting Sierra Leone in the areas of epidemiology, social mobilization and surveillance. WHO has deployed two (2) epidemiologists, and three (3) cholera experts from Zimbabwe to support coordination, public information, social mobilization, case management and infection control.

WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied to Sierra Leone.

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