Algeria - Ministry of Health: Some Southern provinces have cases of diptheria and malaria - September 27, 2024

[Shiloh]

Source: https://fesnews.media/288821/2024/09/28/

Algerian Ministry of Health Announces Closure of Southern Provinces Due to Epidemic Outbreak
محمد الفاسي 28 September، 2024 International



Algiers – The Algerian Ministry of Health has issued a press release announcing emergency measures in the country’s southern provinces due to deteriorating health conditions in the region.

According to the statement, some southern provinces are witnessing cases of “cholera and imported malaria.” The Ministry confirmed that the infected cases are being treated according to established medical protocols, noting that the epidemiological situation is being continuously monitored at both central and local levels.

The statement added that the Ministry has begun recording “increasing numbers of severe cases due to the rapid spread of infection and the lack of necessary medical personnel to contain the spreading disease.”

As a result of this situation, and after consultation with the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Ministry of Health announced that all southern provinces have been declared disaster areas as of today. Consequently, all roads leading to these areas will be closed, and citizens will be prohibited from entering or leaving them for a period of two months starting from the date of the statement...

[sharon sanders]

From the Ministry of Health facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/SanteDZA

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Translation Google

Pr. Sanhadji: “Deaths caused by diphtheria and malaria are recorded in border areas”

Health
09/30/2024 - 10:49

The president of the National Agency for Health Security, Pr. Kamel Sanhadji, revealed on Monday that of the 28 cases of death recorded in the Grand-Sud and caused by the diphtheria epidemic (115 cases in total), 27 cases were recorded in Tinzaouatine and only one case in In Guezzam.

"Since August 28, the majority of diphtheria cases reported in the Grand-Sud have been recorded in border areas, such as Tinzaouatine and Timiaouine," said Professor Sanhadji during his appearance on the program "L'invité du jour" on Algerian Radio channel 3, stressing that "this epidemic is concomitant with malaria which has spread during this favorable period marked by the last rains which caused stagnant water and the emergence of mosquitoes in the desert, knowing that diphtheria is a contagious disease, while malaria is not a contagious pathology, but transmitted by mosquitoes."

Regarding malaria, Professor Sanhadji revealed that 421 cases have been recorded since the end of last August, the majority of which were reported in Tinzaouatine, in the wilaya of In Guezzam where 200 cases have been recorded.

The situation in Timiaouine is similar to that in Tinzaouatine

The same is true in Timiaouine, in the wilaya of Bordj Badji Mokhtar, where the situation is similar to that prevailing in Tinzaouatine. There too, and very unfortunately, the speaker emphasizes, there have been 12 deaths caused by malaria, including 5 in In Guezzam and 7 others in Tinzaouatine.

On the other hand, he said, in the wilaya of Tamanrasset, only one to two cases of diphtheria are reported per day, estimating that "the hospital infrastructure and the highly qualified human resource take care of patients in real time."

Recalling that "all areas affected by diseases benefit from a regular supply of vaccines and medicines, with a therapeutic protocol in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO)", Professor Sanhadji stressed that "the effort to prevent and care for patients is thus based on international standards, guaranteeing optimal protection of local populations. This dates back to 1962 and Algeria's efforts have been praised by the WHO."

The health system of some neighboring countries is not as developed as ours.

In this sense, he will say that "these cases of diphtheria and malaria are mostly imported, resulting from cross-border migrations of populations from neighboring countries, accentuated by climate change. The latter have contributed to the spread of diseases in border regions", highlighting that "the health system of certain neighboring countries is not necessarily developed like ours where the vaccination coverage rate is close to or exceeds 80% of the populations."

The problem arises in the most remote wilayas

Asked whether all means are being mobilized to deal with these pathologies in the Grand-Sud, Professor Sanhadji indicated that the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has tasked the National Health Security Agency to coordinate the health intervention and assess the situation.

"The wilaya of Tamanrasset does not pose a problem in relation to the existing means which are, moreover, very effective, even if, in the event of a crisis, it was necessary to reinforce the means. The problem arises in the new and more distant wilayas which are not yet equipped with large hospital structures. Their structures are stormed and are saturated", explained the speaker, estimating that "with the evolution of populations and movements, these localities must be equipped with large hospital structures".

The State will do everything to create a suitable screening center in remote areas

Arguing that the means of screening exist, Professor Sanhadji admits that "it will be necessary to strengthen the means, because there are tests that are still done at the Pasteur Institute in Algiers, that is to say more than 2,300 kilometers away. But, the State will do everything to ensure that a suitable screening center, or even an annex, can provide both the diagnosis and the medical care on site, but also the appropriate treatment."

No risk of contamination in airports

Addressing the risks of contagion of diphtheria and malaria at airports, Professor Sanhadji reassured that "mosquito control is taken care of by the Ministry of the Interior to eradicate mosquito breeding grounds, vectors of the transmission of the disease, and prevent malaria from spreading", reassuring, with regard to diphtheria, "there has been a sharp drop in cases over the last three days thanks to the delivery of vaccines and medicines".

Farid Belgacem-Radio Algeria Multimedia

https://news.radioalgerie.dz/fr/node/52754

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Far South: 40 deaths caused by diphtheria and malaria

AE Writing
September 30, 2024

The infectious diseases of diphtheria and malaria that appeared in the wilayas of the extreme south of the country have caused the death of at least 40 people, out of a total of 536 cases recorded, in the wilaya of In Guezzam, where Tinzaouatine, a town on the border with Mali, is the most affected.

The wilayas of Tamanrasset and Bordj Badji Mokhtar are also affected. In this last wilaya, the border town of Timiaouine is particularly affected where the situation prevailing there is similar to that of Tinzaouatine.

Indeed, Professor Kamel Sanhadji, the president of the National Agency for Health Security (ANSS), revealed on Monday that 28 cases of death recorded in the Grand-Sud and caused by the diphtheria epidemic (115 cases in total), 27 cases were recorded in Tinzaouatine and only one case in In Guezzam.

"Since August 28, the majority of cases of diphtheria reported in the Grand-Sud have been recorded in border areas, such as Tinzaouatine and Timiaouine," said Professor Sanhadji during his appearance on Chaîne 3 radio .

He stressed that "this epidemic is concomitant with malaria which has spread during this favorable period marked by the last rains which caused stagnant waters and the emergence of mosquitoes in the desert, knowing that diphtheria is a contagious disease, while malaria is not a contagious pathology, but transmitted by mosquitoes."

12 deaths caused by malaria

Regarding malaria, Professor Sanhadji revealed that 421 cases have been recorded since the end of last August, the majority of which were reported in Tinzaouatine, in the wilaya of In Guezzam where 200 cases have been recorded.

Without giving figures concerning the two diseases in Timiaouine, Pr Sanhadji indicated that in this border locality under the wilaya of Bordj Badji Mokhtar, the situation is similar to that which prevails in Tinzaouatine. There too, and very unfortunately, underlines the speaker, there were 12 deaths caused by malaria, including 5 in In Guezzam and 7 others in Tinzaouatine.

On the other hand, he said, in the wilaya of Tamanrasset, only one to two cases of diphtheria are reported per day, estimating that "the hospital infrastructure and the highly qualified human resource take care of patients in real time."

Professor Sanhadji recalled that "all areas affected by the diseases benefit from a regular supply of vaccines and medicines, with a therapeutic protocol in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO)."

He stressed that "the effort to prevent and care for patients is based on international standards, guaranteeing optimal protection for local populations. This has been going on since 1962 and Algeria's efforts have been praised by the WHO."

“Mostly imported” cases

According to him, "these cases of diphtheria and malaria are mostly imported, resulting from cross-border migrations of populations from neighboring countries, accentuated by climate change. The latter have contributed to the spread of diseases in border regions."

He noted that "the health system of certain neighboring countries is not necessarily as developed as ours where the vaccination coverage rate is close to or exceeds 80% of the populations."

Asked whether all means are being mobilized to deal with these pathologies in the Grand-Sud, Professor Sanhadji indicated that the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has tasked the National Health Security Agency to coordinate the health intervention and assess the situation.

"The wilaya of Tamanrasset does not pose a problem in relation to the existing means which are, moreover, very effective, even if, in the event of a crisis, it was necessary to reinforce the means. The problem arises in the new and more distant wilayas which are not yet equipped with large hospital structures. Their structures are stormed and are saturated", explained. The speaker considered that "with the evolution of populations and movements, these localities must be equipped with large hospital structures".

Strengthening screening resources

Arguing that the means of screening exist, Professor Sanhadji admits that "it will be necessary to strengthen the means, because there are tests that are still done at the Pasteur Institute in Algiers, that is to say more than 2,300 kilometers away. But, the State will do everything to ensure that a suitable screening center, or even an annex, can provide both the diagnosis and the medical care on site, but also the appropriate treatment."

Addressing the risks of diphtheria and malaria contagion at airports, Professor Sanhadji reassured that "mosquito control is taken care of by the Ministry of the Interior to eradicate mosquito breeding grounds, vectors of the transmission of the disease, and prevent malaria from spreading."

Regarding diphtheria, "there has been a sharp drop in cases over the last three days thanks to the delivery of vaccines and medicines," he further reassured.

https://www.algerie-eco.com/2024/09/30/extreme-sud-40-deces-causes-par-la-diphterie-et-le-paludisme/