Cholera persists in Guinea: Death toll reaches 135

Conakry 11 September 2007: At the weekly meeting of the National Crisis Committee on Epidemics on 6 September 2007, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Health noted that there was a slight decrease in the number of cholera cases compared to the previous week. Nevertheless the state of alert should be maintained. With several weeks more to go before the end of the rainy season, the number of cases and deaths is likely to rise. In 2006 the month of November recorded the largest number of cases.

Between 27 August and 2 September, 573 new cholera cases and 22 deaths were reported in Guinea, of which 349 cases including 12 deaths in Conakry alone. Other towns include Fria (an industrial city) with 70 cases and 4 deaths, Coyah with 58 cases including 3 deaths, Kindia with 39 cases including 3 deaths, Dubréka with 34 cases, Forecariah, 14 cases, Guéckédou (Guinée Forestière) 6 cases and Boffa with 3 cases.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 3,847 cholera cases have been reported in the country. The number of cases is more than twice as high as it was this time last year, up from 1,789. About 135 people have died from cholera in Guinea this year compared to 148 last year.

In rural areas, other towns have reported cases of severe diarrhea, including fatalities. The town of Télimelé (135km from Kindia) reported 19 cases including 4 deaths and Banko, a village in the town of Dabola, recorded 23 cases and 2 deaths. Stool samples collected from patients are being sent to Conakry for confirmation of cholera. Immediate measures are being taken to provide potable water and adequate drugs to affected areas, which would help in preventing the spread of the epidemic. New centers for the treatment of cholera have been opened and a sensitization campaign launched in Télimelé and Dabola.

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Health says that the Government has provided five tons of rice to the three cholera treatment centers in Conakry as well as allowances for their staff.

Pour de plus amples informations, bien vouloir contacter:

Isabella Dougan, Chef de Bureau, E-mail : dougan@un.org

Madeleine Maka Kaba, Communication Officer, E-mail : makam@un.org

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