2023-06-03 09:05:00
(Agence Ecofin) – This week in the DRC: launch of a demographic and health survey in the DRC and an epidemic of Buruli ulcer is reported in the north-west of the country; Crimean-Congo fever detected in Namibia, and WHO warns that misinformation is worsening the Cholera epidemic in Mozambique.
Mozambique: misinformation worsens cholera epidemic (WHO)
WHO Representative Severin von Xylander has denounced several social media posts that claim without proof that medical professionals are polluting water systems with cholera bacteria instead of adding chlorine. . ” Officials seeking to promote the use of water purifiers are falsely accused of being part of a group that intentionally spreads water-borne disease said Severin von Xylander. For the UN official, this disinformation “ undermines trust in health professionals, who struggle to maintain the health system, and therefore fuels the spread of outbreaks ».
Mozambique cholera: Why outbreaks have sparked unrest
The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted instances in which misinformation about the disease has contributed to the unrest. https://t.co/nKPwqcSJVe
—Ashis Basu?? (@BasuAshis) May 28, 2023
As a reminder, cholera continues to rage in several countries of the sub-region, notably Mozambique and Malawi, where the epidemic has been raging for several months. Cases have also been confirmed in northern South Africa. Since Cyclone Freddy last February, nearly 30,000 cases of cholera have been reported in the country.
Launch of the 3e demographic and health survey in the DRC
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this week launched its third Demographic and Health Survey (EDS-DRC III), an operation that aims to collect and update data on Congolese households.
The survey, carried out in collaboration with the Ministry in charge of Public Health, was launched last Tuesday during a ceremony chaired by Judith Suminwa Tuluka, Minister of State in charge of Planning. Ultimately, it will provide key indicators to guide policy makers in crafting sound development programs.
In total, 600 investigators will criss-cross the country to collect data from 26,520 households, according to the minister. Information will be collected on maternal health, malaria, STIs, HIV/AIDS, chronic diseases and hypertension.
The operation benefits from the support of technical and financial partners, in particular the Global Fund, USAID, UNICEF and the World Bank.
Crimean-Congo fever detected in Namibia
In Namibia, an epidemic of Crimean-Congo virus hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) was declared in the middle of last month (in the middle of last month), following the death of a man suffering from this disease in a hospital in the capital Windhoek. Tests were carried out on 27 people identified as contacts, including 24 healthcare workers. Only one case of CCHF has been confirmed. Since 2016, Namibia has recorded a total of six outbreaks of CCHF, with three deaths in total. Crimean-Congo fever is a serious disease caused by a virus transmitted by ticks, mainly of the genus Hyalomma. It is spread through tick bites or contact with blood or infected animal tissue.
Ethiopia: Update on Dengue fever situation
WHO reports a total of 1,638 suspected and confirmed Dengue fever cases, along with nine associated deaths (0.5% case fatality rate), in Ethiopia between April 4 and May 10 this year. Precisely in the Logia and Mille districts of the region.
The majority of cases concern people aged 15 and over (1147 cases, or 70%).
Note that the first cases of dengue infections in Ethiopia were reported in 2013, when an outbreak occurred in Dire Dawa city administration. Since then, dengue fever cases and outbreaks have been on the rise in the East African country.
Case of yellow fever in Ivory Coast
In Côte d’Ivoire, a recent case of yellow fever was confirmed last month (08 May), raising concerns about the spread of the disease in the region. The case was confirmed by a PCR test at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar.
He is a 35-year-old man from Cocody-Bengerville in Abidjan, who presented the first symptoms on April 4, 2023. A sample was taken on April 6, 2023.
Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness that can lead to severe illness and even death. Symptoms usually appear 3-6 days after infection and may include fever, chills, headache, back and muscle pain, and other flu-like symptoms. In about 15% of cases, the disease can progress to a severe form.
Since the confirmation of the case, the Ivorian health authorities have been closely monitoring the situation and implementing measures to prevent any further spread.
Buruli ulcer outbreak in northwestern DRC
An outbreak of Buruli ulcer has been declared in the health zone of Bogose Nubea, more than 40 kilometers from the city of Gemena, capital of the province of Sud-Ubangi in the north-west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( ground floor). This was indicated by the provincial Minister of Health of Sud-Ubangi, Dr Papy Naego Lambo, quoted par Outbreak News Today.
The Minister said that more than 450 cases of this disease commonly called “Mbasu” have been identified in this health zone.
Buruli ulcer is a skin infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans. Patients usually develop a painless bump or sore (called a nodule or papule) that can initially be mistaken for an insect bite. Over time, the lesion may slowly progress to turn into a destructive skin ulcer.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
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