Cholera/AWD epidemic spreading in Somalia; At least 847 fatalities (Dec 14) - UN; PressTV reporting much higher

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia - 20 more die on Saturday

Cholera kills 19 children in Somalia
Wed Sep 28, 2011 10:32AM GMT

At least 19 Somali children have died and nearly 200 others hospitalized due to Cholera in famine-stricken Somalia, Press TV reports.


The 19 children lost their lives Wednesday morning in the capital Mogadishu.

Doctors in south Mogadishu confirmed the fatalities, saying the children were less than four years old.

...

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/201603.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia - 19 more die on Wednesday

Cholera kills 50 children in Mogadishu
Sat Oct 1, 2011 9:31PM GMT

Cholera has killed 50 more children in the Somali capital Mogadishu, where cases of waterborne diseases have increased due to unhygienic living conditions, Press TV reports.


Doctor Ali Hashi Yusuf told the Press TV correspondent in Mogadishu that the victims died on Saturday evening in Mogadishu's southern districts of Hawlwadig and Hodan.

Over 330 people suffering from cholera and waterborne diseases also flocked hospitals in southern Mogadishu to get medication.

...

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/202244.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia - 50 more die on Saturday

UNICEF sends in health experts to prevent cholera epidemic in Somalia
By Eva Gilliam

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 3 October 2011 - In a small classroom in Mogadishu, over twenty qualified Somali nurses, men and women are gathering tools to fight cholera and acute watery diarrhoea.

"There are many different causes of diarrhoea,? explained Dr. P. Pk Burdhan of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research (icddr,b) in Bangladesh. ?There are many different types of germs that can cause diarrhoea.?

Dr. Burdhan and his team are passionate about their work, teaching others how to treat cholera and other diarrheal diseases around the world.

?Just start ORS [Oral Rehydration Salts] as soon as a person has diarrhoea, don?t wait!? advised Dr. Burdhan.

Dr. Burdhan and his team were brought in by UNICEF in an effort to keep the cases of cholera and acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) from becoming an epidemic.

A constant threat

Conflict and famine in Somalia have forced hundreds of thousands of Somalis to come to Mogadishu seeking food and safety, often arriving in a state of extreme malnutrition. The influx of such high numbers into congested urban areas and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, in an endemic cholera area can have potentially devastating consequences.


Since January 2011, over 43,000 cases of AWD/cholera have been reported, resulting in over 710 deaths. The worst affected areas are Banadir, Lower Shabelle and Lower Juba, which account for 57 per cent of the reported cases and 76 per cent of the related deaths.

?Usually the diarrhoea is caused by very poor sanitation and contaminated water,? said Dr. Osamu Okunii, Chief of Child Survival and Development with UNICEF Somalia. ?But also it is facilitated by acute malnutrition and improper infant and young child feeding.?

In a country with little infrastructure and extreme insecurity due to conflict and famine, training health workers is imperative. This is particularly true when other health concerns such as malnutrition are prevalent.

Minimizing the risk

?In a situation like Somalia, treating cholera [or acute watery diarrhoea] should go hand-in-hand with knowing and understanding the other underlying illnesses and diseases that can exacerbate any illness ? like malnutrition, TB, and malaria,? said Dr. Burdhan.

Health, nutrition and water and sanitation partners are currently working with the local and newly arrived populations to minimize the disease risk and subsequent deaths. These partners are helping to chlorinate water sources, build latrines, and carry out basic hygiene and sanitation education campaigns.

?Even though we had received medical training, this kind of training is a model,? said training participant Hanad Abdi Gariae from Mogadishu. ?It?s a model whereby you are taught how to do things step-by-step.?

Staggering figures

Millions of people in southern Somalia are currently at risk of cholera and AWD due to a lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene, population movements and overcrowding in urban areas. If only 0.5-3 per cent of the ?at risk? population were to actually fall ill, it would result in an approximate 80,000-100,000 cases of cholera/AWD region-wide.

?The difference between working in Somalia and elsewhere is that, first, there has been no formal training or capacity building in 20 years,? said Dr. Burdhan. ?Second, the security situation is bleak. And these things make a huge difference in having an organised response to cholera.?

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/somalia_59971.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia; At least 710 fatalities - UNICEF

32 more Somalis die of hunger, cholera
Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:4PM GMT


A malnourished child rests inside the pediatric ward at the Banadir hospital in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. (file photo)
Cholera and severe malnutrition have killed 32 more children in Somalia as the conflict-plagued nation struggles against drought and famine, Press TV reported.


The victims died on Monday morning in Mogadishu's northern district of Karan. Over 117 children, suffering from cholera and waterborne diseases, were also taken to hospitals, especially Banadir hospital in southern Mogadishu, for medical treatment.

...

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/203816.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia; At least 710 fatalities - UNICEF; 32 more Monday

Cholera kills 116 children in Somalia
Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:10PM GMT

At least 116 Somali children have been killed in southern Somalia over the past 12 hours due to a cholera outbreak, Press TV reports


Hundreds of children have been rushed to hospitals and medical centers in Lego Town and Balad Town in southern Somalia, a local physician told Press TV.

Poor sanitary conditions, scarcity of clean drinking water and overpopulation have resulted in the spread of waterborne diseases in Somalia.

Cholera claims the lives of dozens in Somalia on a daily basis.

...

http://presstv.com/detail/204579.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia; At least 710 fatalities - UNICEF; 116 more on Friday

Comment: Only Press TV seems to be covering this, but their fatality figures have sky rocketed in the past 2 days.


Cholera claims 195 more lives in Somalia
Sun Oct 16, 2011 5:2PM GMT


During the past 24 hours, cholera has claimed the lives of nearly 200 women and children in famine-stricken Somalia, Press TV reports.


At least 195 women and children have died from cholera since yesterday, a Press TV correspondent in Mogadishu reported.

More than 800 children suffering from the disease in refugee camps were reportedly transported to medical centers in south Mogadishu.

...

http://presstv.com/detail/204933.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia; At least 710 fatalities (Oct 3) - UNICEF; PressTV reporting more than 100 fatalities per day

80 more Somali children die of cholera
Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:20AM GMT

Somalia's cholera outbreak has claimed the lives of at least 80 more Somali children as the conflict-plagued Horn of Africa nation grapples with severe drought and famine, Press TV reports.


The malnourished children fell victim to the acute infection at the Dayniile district refugee camp in south Mogadishu in less than half a day, a Press TV correspondent reported, quoting a local physician at the camp in the Somali capital.

Meanwhile, some 445 other children with cholera symptoms have also been taken to hospital in the strife-torn Somali capital over the past 24 hours.

...

http://presstv.com/detail/205224.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia; At least 710 fatalities (Oct 3) - UNICEF; PressTV reporting more than 100 fatalities per day

Cholera kills 45 more Somali children
Sat Oct 22, 2011 2:13PM GMT
Cholera has claimed the lives of at least 45 more children in war-torn Somalia, while hundreds of others have been hospitalized, Press TV reports.


According to Somali medical officials, at least 45 children have died of cholera within the past hours, while another 658 have been taken to hospitals in south Mogadishu, a Press TV correspondent reported on Saturday.

Physicians say the water-borne disease has been rapidly spreading within the past 24 hours in many parts of southern Somalia.

...

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/205999.html

Horn of Africa Crisis
Situation Report No. 19
21 October 2011

...
Health: Since the beginning of September, partners have reported over 900 measles cases; 5,591 cases of
Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD)/cholera in the south and central zone, with 87 related deaths; 2,753
suspected malaria cases, including 11 related deaths; and 10,151 cases of pneumonia or acute respiratory
infections in Banadir, Lower Shabelle, and Middle and Lower Juba. Disease monitoring has revealed that
transmission of measles is sustained in Mogadishu and increasing in other parts of south-central Somalia.The emergency measles vaccination campaign targeting 2.3 million children aged between six months and
15 years in accessible regions of south and central Somalia (including with polio and measles vaccines, deworming
tablets and vitamin A supplements) has been completed, reaching more than a million children.
Cluster partners are engaging local authorities to obtain access in regions of south-central Somalia where
general immunization activities have been interrupted for the last two years due to lack of access, namely in
Bay, Bakool, Lower and Middle Juba and Hiraan. The influx of persons from these areas poses a threat to
measles outbreak control activities. Due to the onset of rains, the risk of AWD, malaria and dengue has
increased. Preparedness plans for these outbreaks are in place, and adequate medical supplies are
available. Increased cases of pneumonia are expected due to hypothermia related to the rains; coordination
is ongoing with other clusters to enhance delivery of blankets and shelter to rain affected people. Health
cluster partners continue to provide primary health care through 24 mobile clinics across Somalia for areas
with limited access to health care facilities. Each clinic reaches about 10,000 people per month.
...

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ocha%20hoa%20situation%20report%20no.%2019_2011.10.21.pdf

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia; At least 710 fatalities (Oct 3) - UNICEF; PressTV reporting 45 more deaths Saturday

Cholera: 214 more children die in Somalia
Sun Oct 23, 2011 5:57AM GMT

Cholera has killed 214 more children in central Somalia, where famine and unhygienic living conditions allow the waterborne disease to flourish, Press TV reported.


Medical sources told Press TV that the victims died on Saturday in the town of Beledweyne in Somalia's central region of Hiiran.

He added that at least 1,500 children suffering from cholera have died over the past five days in the Hiiran region.

...

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/206108.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia; At least 710 fatalities (Oct 3) - UNICEF; PressTV reporting 1,500 fatalities in Hiiran this week

Cholera kills 73 Somali children
Sun Oct 23, 2011 7:30PM GMT

Cholera has claimed the lives of at least another 73 Somali children in south Mogadishu, while dozens of others have been hospitalized, Press TV reports.


At least 187 others have been hospitalized in Banadir Hospital, a Press TV correspondent reported on Sunday.

Physicians say the number of Somalis dying from starvation in south Mogadishu is on the rise.
...

http://presstv.com/detail/206248.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia; At least 710 fatalities (Oct 3) - UNICEF; PressTV reporting 1,500 fatalities in Hiiran this week

I really would like some official corroboration of the constant stream of fatality figures from PressTV. Are there any other media organizations working in the country?


Cholera claims 119 more lives in Somalia
Wed Oct 26, 2011 2:19PM GMT

Cholera has claimed 119 more lives in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, where cases of waterborne diseases have increased due to unhygienic living conditions, Press TV reported.


Doctor Liiban Garaad told Press TV that the victims, most of them women and children, died within the last 24 hours in Mogadishu's southern districts of Hawlwadig and Hodan.

More than 515 people, suffering from cholera and waterborne diseases, were also taken to the hospital in southern Mogadishu to get some medication.

...

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/206759.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia; At least 710 fatalities (Oct 3) - UNICEF; PressTV reporting 1,500 fatalities in Hiiran this week

Horn of Africa Crisis
Situation Report No. 20
28 October 2011

...

In Somalia, the onset of deyr rains in October and flooding in parts of Somalia has raised concern over a
possible large outbreak of water and vector-borne diseases. During the first two weeks of October, 2,810
cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) with 66 related deaths were reported in the south and central zones
of Somalia, of which 1,377 cases were in Banadir region alone. Suspected AWD cases also continue to be
reported from Bay region, Middle and Lower Shabelle, Lower Juba, and Hiraan IDP camp in south
Gaalkacyo regions. Meanwhile, 4,951 cases of pneumonia or acute respiratory infections were reported in
Banadir, Lower and Middle Shebelle, and Lower Juba regions. The exact number of deaths is yet to be
confirmed.

...

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20HoA%20Situation%20Report%20No.%2020%20-%2028%20October%202011.pdf

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia; At least 710 fatalities (Oct 3) - UNICEF; PressTV reporting 1,500 fatalities in Hiiran this week

Cholera kills 142 children in Somalia
Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:32PM GMT



Cholera and famine have claimed the lives of at least another 142 people in war-torn Somalia over the past 24 hours, Press TV reports.


Medical sources say at least 83 children have died this morning in the town of Afgooye, 30 kilometers southeast of Mogadishu. This is while more than 1,300 women and children have been hospitalized in the same region.

Meanwhile, medical officials in Mogadishu also say that cholera has claimed the lives of at least 59 children, while another 977 are currently hospitalized in Hoosh District's Kaah Medical Center.

...

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/207674.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia; At least 710 fatalities (Oct 3) - UNICEF; PressTV reporting 1,500 fatalities in Hiiran this week

Cholera, hunger kills 30 more in Somalia
Wed Nov 2, 2011 1:41PM GMT

Cholera and severe malnutrition have claimed 30 more lives in Somalia as the conflict-plagued nation struggles against drought and famine, Press TV reported.


Medical sources told Press TV that the victims died on Wednesday morning in the Bay region of southern Somalia.

Hundreds of people, suffering from cholera and waterborne diseases, were also taken to local hospitals for medical treatment.

...

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/208015.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia; At least 710 fatalities (Oct 3) - UNICEF; PressTV reporting 1,500 fatalities in Hiiran this week

Somalia ? Famine & Drought
Situation Report No. 21
8 November 2011
...

During October, 5,794 cases of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) were recorded in central and southern
Somalia, including 4,046 cases (and 127 related deaths) amongst children under 5 years of age. This
represents an increase from 5,591 cases in September, but remains lower than the 7,109 cases reported in
August. Most of the cases are concentrated in Banadir and the surrounding regions of Middle Shabelle,
Lower Shabelle, Bay and Lower Juba. In Banadir region alone, 2,984 cases were reported in October, an
increase from 2,526 cases reported in September. Since January, a total of 53,775 cases have been
reported (including 39,377 children under the age of five), of which 795 resulted in deaths. In response,
health partners have recently provided one diarrhoea disease (DD) kit (each kit treats 300 severe cases of
adult AWD and 1,200 mild to moderate cases), one inter-agency emergency health kit, a trauma kit and a
reproductive health kit to Kismayo General Hospital in the Lower Juba region. A DD kit was also sent to the
Lower Shabelle region. In Bay region, medicines for AWD case management were provided and a cholera
treatment unit kit was dispatched to the mother and child health centre.
A total of 1,664 suspected measles cases were reported in October in Somalia?s central and southern
regions, including 1,293 cases among children under five years of age, and a total of 29 related deaths. This
is a 14 per cent decrease from September, which is due to the ongoing mass vaccination activities that have
reached more than 1 million children.
The number of malaria cases in October decreased by two per cent from September, with 2,692 cases
reported in central and southern regions, including 1,118 cases amongst children under five years of age,
and nine related deaths. The decrease is likely due to the indoor household spraying campaigns and
distribution of bed nets by health partners.
Some 12,989 cases of suspected pneumonia or acute respiratory infections (ARI), including 7,108 cases
involving children under 5 years of age, were recorded in October in Banadir, Lower Shabelle, Middle and
Lower Juba regions. ARI cases increased in October, up 28 per cent from the 10,151 reported cases in
September. This is most likely due to the increase in rains and cold weather, combined with poor shelter
conditions. The exact number of deaths is unknown.
From the last week of October, Health Cluster partners report that more than 100 conflict-related injuries,
including 15 children under five years of age, have been reported in the Lower and Middle Juba regions
following on-going military action in the area. The number of deaths has not been established. In response, a
trauma kit that can support surgery for 100 people and one inter-agency emergency health kit with sufficient
medical supplies for 10,000 people for three months were dispatched to Kismayo hospital in the Lower Juba
region last week.

...

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20Somalia%20Situation%20Report%20No.%2021%20%281%29.pdf