Angola - Cholera outbreak 2025

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Friday, 10 January 2025 14:58

Cholera deaths in Luanda rise to 11 with 95 cases reported

The number of deaths from cholera in Luanda has risen to 11, with 93 cases having been reported since the beginning of the year, according to the Ministry of Health (Minsa) information bulletin to which Lusa had access today.

Two cases were also reported in the neighboring province of Bengo, according to the same document.

The cases registered in the province of Luanda are confined to neighborhoods in the municipality of Cacuaco, especially Paraíso, which has a total of 54 cases, eight confirmed, and five deaths.

Of the 95 cases, aged between 2 and 65, 54 were male and the rest were female.

In the last 24 hours, 37 cases of cholera were reported, of which 35 in Cacuaco (17 in the Paraíso neighborhood) and two in the municipality of Dande, Bengo province, with two deaths occurring, one of which was out-of-hospital.

Minsa declared a cholera outbreak when the first case was confirmed, on January 7, and activated the National Cholera Response Plan.

According to a previous note from the Ministry of Health, people are presenting symptoms of vomiting and watery diarrhea, with the provincial health office in Luanda having "immediately" implemented measures recommended by the World Health Organization.

These measures include disinfection of contaminated areas, identification and tracing of contacts and in-depth epidemiological and laboratory investigation to confirm suspected cases.

The president of the National Union of Doctors of Angola, Adriano Manuel, said on Wednesday, in statements to Lusa, that the lack of sanitation, increase in poverty and lack of investment in preventive health are increasing the risk of cholera emerging in the country, stating that "there was no shortage of warnings".

According to the WHO, after a period without outbreaks between 1995 and 2000, the country suffered a massive outbreak in 2011, resulting in 2,284 cases and 181 deaths.

The most recent outbreak occurred between 2016 and 2017, affecting the provinces of Cabinda, Luanda and Zaire with a total of 252 cases and 11 deaths.

UNICEF says that cholera outbreaks have been recorded in Angola in several provinces of the country since 2017 and warns that nine million people are at risk, especially during the rainy season, which runs from October to April.

https://angola24horas.com/sociedade/item/31124-mortes-por-colera-em-luanda-sobem-para-11-com-95-casos-notificados%E2%80%8B

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Source: https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/an...4-80c6280acdb5

Angola reports 119 cholera cases, including 12 deaths
Published 9h ago


Angola's Ministry of Health (MINSA) provided a bulletin on the country's cholera outbreak, reporting 119 cases including 12 deaths, with 14 cases confirmed through laboratory testing and 12 samples remaining under analysis.

"With the confirmation of the first case on January 7, 2025, the Ministry of Health declared the cholera outbreak," the bulletin said. MINSA has updated and activated its national cholera response plan, mobilizing medical resources and supplies.

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INTERSECTORAL COMMISSION EVALUATES PREVENTION AND COMBAT MEASURES AGAINST CHOLERA



Prevention and combat measures against cholera were evaluated today, January 11, at the meeting between the Ministry of Health and representatives of the government, Provincial Directorates and Municipal Health Directorates of the country, held at the General Hospital of Cacuaco “Heróis de Kifangongo”.

The outbreak of cholera and acute diarrhea that has affected some neighborhoods in the municipalities of Catete, Cacuaco and Dande in the province of Luanda until yesterday, January 10, recorded a total of 119 cases, including 12 deaths, corresponding to a fatality rate of 10%, according to the Cholera Epidemiological Bulletin, published by the National Directorate of Public Health.

Cholera Treatment Centers (CTAs) were set up in the provinces of Luanda, Bengo and Icolo e Bengo to reinforce patient care and control the disease outbreak.

During her speech, the Minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, said that the country is once again in a public health emergency situation in which everyone is called upon to make their contribution, because since January 7th the first cases of cholera have been recorded, despite the fact that in the first days of the year 2025 cases of diarrhea, a typical symptom of cholera, were recorded.

"The number of positive cases of cholera has been increasing and each case represents 20 more cases, and there may be cases of asymptomatic patients or those with mild symptoms who do not seek out health units."

According to the head of the sector, cholera kills. And it kills quickly, leading the patient to a state of severe malnutrition that is incompatible with life, so the process of social mobilization and health promotion must be one of the main causes, in addition to other measures, such as raising awareness among the population about hygiene practices, such as washing hands and sanitizing food to prevent the transmission of the disease.

https://minsa.gov.ao/web/noticias/co...ontra-a-colera

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WHO Participates in High-Level Meeting on Cholera Outbreak in Angola



11 janvier 2025

Luanda - On 11 January 2025, WHO took part in a high-level meeting convened by the Minister of Health at the General Hospital of Cacuaco to address Angola’s cholera. WHO commended the Governments actions to effectively coordinate a multisector team, timely detect and respond to the outbreak including promptly sharing information with all relevant authorities in compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).

The outbreak has so far affected three provinces—Luanda, Icolo e Bengo, and Bengo—with 119 confirmed cases reported as of 10 January 2025. The first case was reported on 5^th January 2025. The high level meeting brought together high level representatives, including 3 ministers, from multiple ministries, including Education, Tourism, Energy and Water, Social Communication, Higher Education, Social Affairs, Agriculture, Environment, and Territorial Administration, as well as the CEO of EPAL, Angola’s national water company. Key health development partners such as UNICEF and the World Bank also participated.

The Ministry of Health presented a detailed response plan to tackle the outbreak, outlining strategies for containment and mitigation. WHO raised concerns about the high case fatality rate, emphasizing the need for immediate and strengthened actions at both the community and hospital levels to reduce mortality rates.

Preparedness efforts in provinces not yet affected by the outbreak were commended, while the global challenge of vaccine scarcity was highlighted. WHO noted that, with many countries currently experiencing cholera outbreaks and limited vaccine doses available in the global stockpild managed by the International Coordinating Group (ICG), it remains committed to advocating for vaccine allocations to Angola.

A feedback session followed, during which several critical issues were addressed:

• WHO emphasized the importance of working with traditional leaders to encourage the use of oral rehydration solutions in communities, particularly for patients traveling to healthcare facilities.
• Strengthening case management and hospital interventions was identified as an immediate priority.
• The need for improved water and sanitation infrastructure including hygiene was highlighted, with EPAL recognized as a key player in ensuring clean water access.

Since onset of the outbreak, WHO has provided critical support, which includes assistance in risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), surveillance, case management, logistics, and documentation.

WHO reiterated their commitment together with UN and other partners in supporting the Government in ensuring the cholera outbreak is contained within the shortest possible time.

The meeting concluded with a brief field visit to the General Hospital of Cacuaco, allowing participants to assess the conditions and immediate needs on the ground.

https://www.afro.who.int/fr/node/20453

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NEWSLETTER
OF CHOLERA
REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

UPDATED: 13-01-2025, at 6pm EPIDEMIOLOGICAL WEEK: 3
...

HIGHLIGHT COORDINATION

In the last 24 hours, 59 cases of cholera were reported, 41 in the municipality of Cacuaco and 4 in Viana, in the province of Luanda; 7 in the municipality of Sequele and 2 in Catete, in the province of Icolo e Bengo and 5 cases in the municipality of Dande, in the province of Bengo;

Of the reported cases, 19 were laboratory confirmed;

There was 1 death, out of hospital in the municipality of Viana;

9 samples of suspected cases are being processed at the INIS National Reference Laboratory, 6 from Cacuaco and 1 from Viana, in the province of Luanda, and 1 from the municipality of Catete and 1 in the municipality of Quiçama, in the province of Icolo e Bengo; By the third epidemiological week of 2025, a total of 283 cases had been recorded, with ages ranging from 2 to 73 years, of which 129 (45.6%) were male and 154 (54.4%) were female; A cumulative total of 19 deaths had been reported, of which 16 were in the municipality of Cacuaco and 2 in Viana in the province of Luanda and 1 in the municipality of Dande in the province of Bengo; 33 cases were hospitalized, 24 at the Cacuaco Municipal Hospital and 9 patients at the Héróis de Quifangondo General Hospital.
...

https://www.afro.who.int/sites/default/files/2025-01/BOLETIM%20CO%CC%81LERA%206.pdf