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Tag: cholera outbreak

  • 35 lives lost to cholera as cases hit 4,155

    35 lives lost to cholera as cases hit 4,155

    Ghana has recorded 4,155 suspected cholera cases since October, with 35 fatalities as of December 23, 2024.

    Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye, provided this update in a statement on December 24, 2024.

    The Western Region has been the most affected, with 17 deaths reported.

    He pointed out that the Western Region had been the most impacted, with 17 deaths reported.

    “Between 30th November and 19th December 2024, an Oral Vaccination campaign was conducted in the Awutu Senya East, Ahanta West, Effia-Kwesimintim, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Shama metro/municipals, which are the hotspots. A total of 662,906 persons have been vaccinated out of 792,482 eligible population.”

    “After the vaccination campaign, the number of reported cases in those districts have declined steadily. Awutu Senya East has not recorded any confirmed case after the vaccination exercise,” he stated.

    Dr. Aboagye advised individuals experiencing diarrhea and vomiting to promptly seek medical attention at the nearest health center.

    “As we enter the Christmas season, we are entreated to drink potable water, eat food that is hot, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consuming, and wash our hands with soap under running water before preparing food, before eating, and after visiting the toilet (and washroom) or changing diapers and after touching surfaces,” he added.

  • Zoomlion partners Ga South to fumigate parts of Accra against cholera outbreak

    Zoomlion partners Ga South to fumigate parts of Accra against cholera outbreak

    Zoomlion Ghana Limited, in partnership with the Ga South Municipal Assembly, has carried out fumigation in communities recently affected by a cholera outbreak in the municipality within the Greater Accra Region.

    This initiative is part of the measures taken by the Municipal Health Directorate to prevent further spread of the disease across the region.

    Two weeks ago, four communities—Kokrobite, Bortianor, Oshiyie, and Manhyean—reported nine cholera cases, with three fatalities during that period.

    Evans Nyakotey Doryumu, the Accra District Vector Control Supervisor at Zoomlion, revealed in an exclusive interview with The Ghanaian Times that the Ga South Municipal Health Directorate contacted his team about the outbreak in these communities. In response, Zoomlion swiftly mobilized to disinfect the affected areas.

    Starting on October 26, the fumigation teams began their work in the four communities and planned to extend their efforts to Ashalaja and neighboring areas in the Dome-Abrea Oboum zones.

    Mr. Doryumu explained that the fumigation teams focused on areas such as waste disposal sites, public toilets, affected households, bushy areas, clinics where cases were recorded, and local mosques.

    Attributing the outbreak to poor hygiene practices, he pointed out that only Kokrobite had a designated waste disposal site, while the other communities lacked proper facilities, resulting in haphazard dumping of waste, which poses significant health risks.

    He urged residents to adopt better hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing with soap and water after using the toilet, eating warm food, and drinking clean water. He also encouraged early medical attention if symptoms arise to prevent the situation from worsening.

    Mr. Doryumu called on the Municipal Health Directorate to increase public awareness about cholera, particularly in schools, where children are most vulnerable.

    Last month, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) confirmed cholera cases in the Ada West and Ada East districts of the Greater Accra Region, raising health concerns.

    The first confirmed case was reported on October 4, 2024, from a patient who showed symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain after attending a funeral in Ada East. By October 11, nine cases had been confirmed in both districts.

  • Cholera outbreak hits Limpopo

    Cholera outbreak hits Limpopo

    Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, has advised the public to stay vigilant and uphold personal hygiene practices as the country registers two laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera in Limpopo, both imported from Zimbabwe.

    The first case, involving a 43-year-old male patient in the Musina sub-district, Vhembe District, has been discharged from Musina hospital after testing positive.

    The second case is a 27-year-old man, also from Zimbabwe, who reported symptoms at Hellen Franz hospital under Capricorn District Municipality.

    He has a stable health condition and remains in isolation since his return from Zimbabwe on January 10, 2024.

    The local outbreak response team is active in investigating and providing health education to contacts.

    South Africa remains on high alert for potential imported cholera cases from Zimbabwe, which is grappling with an outbreak claiming over 200 lives.

    Collaborating with the Border Management Authority, the Health Department has heightened health screening at Beitbridge border post to prevent cholera importation.

    Deputy Minister Dhlomo commends the honesty and cooperation of the suspected cholera patients, urging others with travel history to affected areas to follow suit.

    Travelers along the N1 are advised to avoid potentially contaminated surfaces in public places and practice thorough handwashing.

    Anyone experiencing cholera-like symptoms, regardless of travel history, is urged to seek immediate medical attention. The public is reminded to avoid drinking water from unsafe sources unless properly treated to prevent infection.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of Health.

  • President of South Africa to travel to epicenter of cholera outbreak

    President of South Africa to travel to epicenter of cholera outbreak

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone about the impending peace mission to Russia and Ukraine by six African leaders.

    Mr Ramaphosa said the outbreak had caused devastation and government agencies had been working on measures to contain the spread of the disease.

    His visit follows the death of at least 26 people, mostly in Hammanskraal, the epicentre of the outbreak.

    More than 130 residents have been treated for the waterborne disease.

  • More than 1,000 deaths in Malawi cholera outbreak

    More than 1,000 deaths in Malawi cholera outbreak

    Malawi has recorded more than 1,000 cholera deaths since the outbreak started in March last year.

    This is the highest figure the country has ever recorded for a cholera outbreak.

    There are fears health officials are struggling to contain the outbreak as they are running low on medical supplies including vaccines – most of which were used up last week.

    More than 30,000 infections have been reported in Malawi.

    Most cases and deaths have been recorded in the capital, Lilongwe and Blantyre, where the opening of schools was delayed to control the spread of cholera.

    The widespread cases are linked to the impact of climate change that caused extensive flooding last year and destroyed the country’s water and sanitation systems.

    Health Minister Khumbize Chiponda has urged people to use safe water and observe basic hygiene, but very few people have access to safe water and improved sanitation facilities.

    Two weeks ago, the country launched an international appeal asking for medical supplies to contain the outbreak.

    The health ministry has also asked the World Health Organization to assist them in getting 7.6 million doses of cholera vaccines.

    However, with only two manufacturers producing this vaccine and a global cholera outbreak, it’s unlikely that they’ll get them any time soon.

    Source: BBC