Cholera possibly claims 3
2005-01-20 14:24
Johannesburg - A cholera outbreak in the Burundi capital of Bujumbura is thought to have claimed three lives with more cases being reported daily said Medinfo in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Dr Andrew Jamieson said the epidemic, which started on January 12, was spreading rapidly.
"We think three people have already died but this has not yet been substantiated," he said.
He said 88 cases had been reported by the Ministry of Public Health since the outbreak.
He attributed the "flare up" of the disease to the heavy rainfall that caused faecal contamination of ground water and wells, and the cutting off of public water sources in informal settlements due to non payment for water by the city council to the water utility company.
He said no international intervention had yet been requested but that if the disease became uncontrollable, the United Nations would step in and organise operations.
Jamieson advised travellers to the region to practice good food and water hygiene, and to consider immunisation against cholera if at high risk.
"The oral cholera vaccine does provide protection against traveller's diarrhoea as well as cholera - if travellers are spending any time in the region they should think about being immunised," he said.
- SAPA