America News Desk!! The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday that heavy flooding caused by seasonal rains and tropical cyclones in southern Africa is increasing the risk of the disease spreading and undermining outbreak control efforts, even as weekly cholera cases in affected African countries drop. The risk of committing has increased. The number of recently confirmed cholera cases dropped to 2,880 in the week ending Sunday, a 37 percent decrease from the previous week, when 4,584 cases were reported, Xinhua news agency reported. The WHO Regional Office for Africa said in a statement that the number of deaths remained virtually unchanged, with a slight decline from 82 to 81 over the same period. Twelve African countries are currently reporting cases, with South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe leading the way. In southern Africa, cholera outbreaks are occurring amid seasonal rains and tropical storms that have caused heavy flooding, especially in Malawi, which is facing its worst ever cholera outbreak, exacerbated by heavy rainfall. Has gone.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said countries have stepped up cholera control measures and early signs are promising. However, parts of southern Africa are at risk of disease spread from heavy flooding and cyclonic events. We are supporting countries to increase disease detection, provide medical supplies, and increase preparedness in areas at risk of flooding. In Madagascar, which last reported cholera in 2000, recent cyclones, particularly Cyclone Cheneso, which struck the country in January, have caused widespread flooding, some of which are slowly subsiding. . The floods have increased malaria cases and increased the risk of cholera outbreaks. More than 470,000 people have no access to health services after tropical chainsaws destroyed at least 77 health facilities. More than 116,000 people have been affected in seven of the country’s 23 regions and nearly 29,000 homes damaged after Tropical Cyclone Freddy hit the island on February 21.
To support the cholera response, WHO has deployed 80 experts to the affected countries. In the past two months, WHO has delivered 455 tons of critical cholera supplies to Malawi and Mozambique. Supplies have also been delivered to Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia to strengthen outbreak preparedness and response. Ongoing cholera outbreaks in Africa are being worsened by extreme climate events and conflicts, which have increased vulnerabilities, as people are forced to flee their homes and grapple with precarious living conditions.
–IANS
World News Desk!!
KC/ANM