WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 34: 16 - 22 August 2021
Data as reported by: 17:00; 22 August 2021
...
Cholera Niger
1 404 Cases
54 Deaths
3.8% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
On 9 August 2021, the Ministry of Public Health of Niger officially
declared a cholera outbreak in the country. The first cases were
reported in week 23 (week ending 13 June 2021) in Birni N’Konni
district, Tahoua region which shares a border with Nigeria. The
region also has some districts that share borders with Mali in
the north but no cases have been reported thus far. During week
26 (week ending 4 July 2021), districts in the Zinder and Maradi
regions reported cholera cases and subsequently Dosso region
reported cases in week 30 (week ending 1 August 2021). The capital
city of Niamey, which is also the most populated area in the country,
has also reported at least 58 cases of cholera.
As of 20 August 2021, a total of 1 404 cases and 54 deaths (CFR
3.8%) have been reported from 22 (31%) out of 72 health districts in
Niger. Currently, 17 of the 22 health districts are reporting ongoing
transmission of the outbreak. Districts reporting the most cases
thus far are Madarounfa (475 cases) and Maradiville (315 cases)
both in Maradi region, followed by Magaria (135 cases) in Zinder
region. Of the 109 samples tested, 60% of them were confirmed
positive with the isolated serotype identified as Vibrio cholerae O1
Ogawa. Overall, 735 cases (52%) have been reported among females
while 643 cases (45%) have been among males. Proportionally, the
highest death rate has occurred among children below five years of
age. Death rates have also been higher in Niamey region (Niamey
Urban Community) (28% death rate) and Tahoua region (25% death
rate), while the other regions’ death rates all remain lower than 6%.
The rainy season in Niger is seasonal and usually lasts between June
and October. All regions reporting cholera cases have also reported
floods making conditions even worse. According to the Ministry of
Humanitarian Action and Disaster Management, 69 515 people from
7 812 households have been affected by the floods throughout the
country facilitating the spread of cholera.
In addition, many of the affected districts share borders with other
countries and outbreaks in the past have been linked to cross-border
cases. Nigeria’s northern states are currently known to have active
cholera outbreaks and imported cases from Katsina and Sokoto
states have been detected in Tahoua and Maradi regions. There
is much population movement across borders in this area which
is a major threat to the spread of cholera within the West African
subregion. The current outbreak in Gaya district of the Dosso region
in Niger poses a major threat to Benin and other neighbouring
countries considering that it is a major trade and transportation hub
in the subregion.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
An incident management coordination committee was formed
and meets daily
A One Health committee is being established.
Response teams at all levels (district, regional, and national)
have been activated.
Case investigations are being carried out in the affected regions.
Laboratory and infection prevention control supplies have been
prepositioned to all health districts.
Contacts of cases are being traced and receiving preventative
treatment.
Cholera isolation and treatment units were established in
affected health areas.
Safe and dignified burials have been conducted for the deceased.
Affected regions were provided with water treatment supplies
for household drinking water.
Water points were rehabilitated in villages in the Zinder region
with more planned for the future.
Risk communication and community outreach is being
conducted.
Preparations are underway for a reactive vaccination campaign.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
The cholera outbreak has deteriorated rapidly in Niger. Although an
outbreak has not been reported in more than a year, the country is
known to be endemic for the disease. The ongoing rainy season has
contributed to the precarious situation as floods have been reported
in all the regions where they have been reported cases of cholera.
Similar seasonal flooding is commonplace at this time of the year
across the West African subregion and have been reported in
neighbouring Nigeria, a country also currently experiencing a large
outbreak of cholera. Furthermore, frequent population movement
between nearby countries for travel and trade have in the past
accounted for subregional spread of outbreaks and has the potential
for much wider regional spread of the current cholera outbreak. A
case has already been documented in Burkina Faso which was from
Niger.
...
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 34: 16 - 22 August 2021
Data as reported by: 17:00; 22 August 2021
...
Cholera Niger
1 404 Cases
54 Deaths
3.8% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
On 9 August 2021, the Ministry of Public Health of Niger officially
declared a cholera outbreak in the country. The first cases were
reported in week 23 (week ending 13 June 2021) in Birni N’Konni
district, Tahoua region which shares a border with Nigeria. The
region also has some districts that share borders with Mali in
the north but no cases have been reported thus far. During week
26 (week ending 4 July 2021), districts in the Zinder and Maradi
regions reported cholera cases and subsequently Dosso region
reported cases in week 30 (week ending 1 August 2021). The capital
city of Niamey, which is also the most populated area in the country,
has also reported at least 58 cases of cholera.
As of 20 August 2021, a total of 1 404 cases and 54 deaths (CFR
3.8%) have been reported from 22 (31%) out of 72 health districts in
Niger. Currently, 17 of the 22 health districts are reporting ongoing
transmission of the outbreak. Districts reporting the most cases
thus far are Madarounfa (475 cases) and Maradiville (315 cases)
both in Maradi region, followed by Magaria (135 cases) in Zinder
region. Of the 109 samples tested, 60% of them were confirmed
positive with the isolated serotype identified as Vibrio cholerae O1
Ogawa. Overall, 735 cases (52%) have been reported among females
while 643 cases (45%) have been among males. Proportionally, the
highest death rate has occurred among children below five years of
age. Death rates have also been higher in Niamey region (Niamey
Urban Community) (28% death rate) and Tahoua region (25% death
rate), while the other regions’ death rates all remain lower than 6%.
The rainy season in Niger is seasonal and usually lasts between June
and October. All regions reporting cholera cases have also reported
floods making conditions even worse. According to the Ministry of
Humanitarian Action and Disaster Management, 69 515 people from
7 812 households have been affected by the floods throughout the
country facilitating the spread of cholera.
In addition, many of the affected districts share borders with other
countries and outbreaks in the past have been linked to cross-border
cases. Nigeria’s northern states are currently known to have active
cholera outbreaks and imported cases from Katsina and Sokoto
states have been detected in Tahoua and Maradi regions. There
is much population movement across borders in this area which
is a major threat to the spread of cholera within the West African
subregion. The current outbreak in Gaya district of the Dosso region
in Niger poses a major threat to Benin and other neighbouring
countries considering that it is a major trade and transportation hub
in the subregion.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
An incident management coordination committee was formed
and meets daily
A One Health committee is being established.
Response teams at all levels (district, regional, and national)
have been activated.
Case investigations are being carried out in the affected regions.
Laboratory and infection prevention control supplies have been
prepositioned to all health districts.
Contacts of cases are being traced and receiving preventative
treatment.
Cholera isolation and treatment units were established in
affected health areas.
Safe and dignified burials have been conducted for the deceased.
Affected regions were provided with water treatment supplies
for household drinking water.
Water points were rehabilitated in villages in the Zinder region
with more planned for the future.
Risk communication and community outreach is being
conducted.
Preparations are underway for a reactive vaccination campaign.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
The cholera outbreak has deteriorated rapidly in Niger. Although an
outbreak has not been reported in more than a year, the country is
known to be endemic for the disease. The ongoing rainy season has
contributed to the precarious situation as floods have been reported
in all the regions where they have been reported cases of cholera.
Similar seasonal flooding is commonplace at this time of the year
across the West African subregion and have been reported in
neighbouring Nigeria, a country also currently experiencing a large
outbreak of cholera. Furthermore, frequent population movement
between nearby countries for travel and trade have in the past
accounted for subregional spread of outbreaks and has the potential
for much wider regional spread of the current cholera outbreak. A
case has already been documented in Burkina Faso which was from
Niger.
...
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