Cholera epidemic in West and Central Africa

45,000 cholera cases in West and Central Africa

09/09/2011

Following the announcement of an increasing number of cholera infections from Somalia in August, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva is now warning of a cholera epidemic in central and western Africa.

About 45,000 people are currently suffering from cholera in Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad. Over 1,250 people have already died as a result of the infection, according to the relief organization. The health centers are already overburdened and in the coming weeks, a massive increase in cholera diseases is expected, said the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Further increase in cholera infections fears
The current cholera epidemic already originated in May in central Chad, explained the experts of the international Red Cross. According to the experts, today every second district in the republic is affected and in the past week alone there were about 1,400 cholera new infections. The massive precipitation expected during the rainy season could lead to a further increase in cholera diseases in the coming months, warned Sophie Chavanel, disaster expert for the International Red Cross. The organization's health, water and sanitation experts have been active in Chad since 25 August. Sophie Chavanel describes the situation for the helpers as „very difficult“. In the health centers, everything is done to help the cholera patients, but the facilities and staff are already at their performance limits. The doctors and nurses work 24 hours to save the lives of the infected, but in the centers are often not even enough beds available, „People are lying on the floor, and there is little medicine“, emphasized disaster expert Chavanel.

Serious health consequences of a cholera infection
According to the experts of the International Red Cross, the cholera bacteria are usually transmitted via faeces-contaminated drinking water or contaminated food. The infection with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae causes gastroenteritis (gastrointestinal inflammation) with extreme diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Due to the massive fluid loss threatens the dehydration. In addition, other health problems, such as pneumonia, parotid gland inflammation or blood poisoning as a result of cholera infection occur, the statement of the experts. Especially for children under the age of five and elderly, already weakened persons cholera infections are life-threatening and urgently need medical treatment. The cholera is actually relative „easy to handle“, explained disaster expert Sophie Chavanel. By supplying enough fluid, sugar and salt to prevent a potentially deadly dehydration of the body and stabilize the condition of those affected, but often reach the infected „no longer in time a treatment center and then they die“, stressed Chavanel.

Compliance with hygiene standards to reduce the risk of infection
According to the International Red Cross, the reason for the massive spread of the cholera infectious disease is above all the poor hygienic conditions and the inadequate health care system. By adhering to certain hygiene standards, a large part of the infections could already be prevented, according to Sophie Chavanel. The aid organizations therefore see the core of their work in the education of hygiene measures in the individual regions and villages on site. The disinfection of drinking water always plays an essential role, since most of those affected by contaminated water infected, explained the experts of the aid organizations. (Fp)

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Image: Dieter Schütz