1.8 million people risk disease in Horn of Africa

December 8, 2006 (Press Release) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) annouunced Friday that it continues to be deeply concerned by the health situation of some 1.8 million people living in the flood affected areas in the Horn of Africa. Since October, unusually heavy rains have caused major flooding in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Between 1.5 to 1.8 million people are at risk from infectious diseases, such as cholera, measles, and malaria as well as nutrition deficiencies. In Ethiopia, some 40 000 cases of acute watery diarrhoea have been reported, including 403 deaths. In Somalia , one hundred cases have occurred, particularly in children under five years of age, and the region is experiencing a serious situation where people are dying from diseases related to the water and sanitation situation. Malaria will become a very serious problem in the weeks to come. The region is known to be endemic for many health problems, including cholera, diarrhea, malaria, shigellosis, Rift Valley fever, measles, meningitis and malnutrition. A key WHO concern is the major gap in outbreak preparedness. The region lacks laboratory capacity for confirmation of epidemic-prone diseases and stockpiling of emergency medicines and equipment. No isolation facilities have been identified while the health facilities have poor infection control.

source: http://www.kuna.net.kw/