Geneva: Angola’s cholera outbreaks have killed more than 300 people since January, with thousands of infected as the disease is spreading quickly over most of the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
The outbreak has now claimed 329 lives, as WHO said Saturday and warned that the risk of further transmission in the country and the surrounding areas was “very high.”
The resourceful African nation has experienced a significant cholera outbreak since January, with a total of 8,543 cases registered on March 23. Angola struggles with high poverty rates and poor sanitation despite its oil wealth.
The WHO said the outbreak had quickly spread to 16 out of Angola’s 21 provinces affecting individuals of all age groups, with the highest burden among those under 20.
“The Ministry of Health, with the support of WHO and Partners, administers the cholera outbreak reaction through case detection, implementation of quick response teams, community engagement and a vaccination campaign,” the UN Health Agency said.
“Given the rapidly evolving outbreak, the ongoing rainy season and cross -border movement with neighboring countries that assess the risk of further transmission in Angola and the surrounding areas as very high.”
Namibia, Angola’s southern neighbor, registered its first case of cholera for almost a decade, the African Union’s Health Agency said earlier this month. The 55-year-old woman recovered and was discharged from the hospital.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae, often from faeces.
It causes severe diarrhea, vomiting and muscle cramps.
Cholera can kill within hours when not treated, although it can be controlled with simple oral rehydration and antibiotics in more severe cases.
There has been a global increase in cholera cases and their geographical spread since 2021.
Between January 1 and March 23 this year, 93,172 cases and 1,197 deaths in 24 countries were reported, with 60 percent of cases in Africa, WHO said.
