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Published Date
2010-04-28 08:57:51
Subject
PRO/EAFR> Pertussis - DR Congo: (Sankuru) RFI
Archive Number
20100428.207021
Full Text
PERTUSSIS - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: (SANKURU) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
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Date: Tue 22 April 2010
Source: Radio Okapi [in French, machine trans., edited]
DR Congo (Sankuru): nearly 80 pertussis cases
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The health areas of Onema Ototo and Vangakete are affected. In total,
74 cases have already been recorded. Among the victims are children
of 1 to 3 years. The lack of vaccination or the use of expired
vaccines are the cause of the disease, according to the provincial
Minister of Health, Rolland Shodu. The resurgence of these cases are
of concern to health authorities at the highest level in the province
of Kasai Oriental, because whooping cough is a disease eradicated
from the Congo DR.
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Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR
[Pertussis is an important cause of infant mortality worldwide, even
in countries with high vaccination coverage. Up to 90 percent of the
cases occur in developing countries. Immunization is the mainstay for
disease prevention. At least 90 percent coverage with 3 doses of the
diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (DTP) in infants remains the 1st
programme priority worldwide. The disease is caused by _Bordetella
pertussis_, a gram-negative coccobacillus, but occasionally
_Bordetella parapertussis_, may cause pertussis-like disease. Hence,
laboratory confirmation of clinically suspected cases is important,
particularly for the diagnosis of index cases. Additional information
on epidemiological description and laboratory confirmation of this
Kasai Oriental cluster will be appreciated.