Cholera outbreak in Afghanistan

[Ronan Kelly]

Cholera breaks out in Kandahar
by Bashir Ahmad Naadem on 16 June, 2011 - 20:09

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): Cholera is rapidly spreading in southern Kandahar province due to the hot weather, health officials said on Thursday.

The disease has infected thousands of people across the province, Deputy Public Health Director Dr. Ahmadullah Faizi told Pajhwok Afghan News.

More people have suffered the disease this year, with 80 percent of them children of age five and below, he said. Over the past three months, dozens of children lost their lives before reaching hospitals.

Faizi linked the fast spread of cholera to the use of baby feeders and inadequate attention parental attention to keeping their children clean.

He said the disease was on the increase in areas where people had no access to clean drinking water. Medicines had been provided to all hospitals in the province, he added.

Cholera is a waterborne disease that causes acute diarrhoea and vomiting, and can be fatal if not treated in 24 hours.

ma/mud

http://www.pajhwok.com/en//2011/06/16/cholera-breaks-out-kandahar

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Afghanistan: Diarrhea outbreak in Kandahar, fatalities, possibly cholera

Afghanistan: Diarrhea outbreak in Kandahar, fatalities, possibly cholera

Here's an alternate view -diarrhea and "a few" fatalities;

Thursday June 16, 2011
Diarrhea cases affected many in Kandahar 2011-06-16 15:45

Wakht News Agency
Kandahar City-(June.16)

Kandahar provincial public health department said on Thursday that diarrhea breakout had increased mostly among children as the temperature is getting higher in the southern province.

Deputy provincial Kandahar public health director, Dr. Ahmadullah Faizi told reporters that according to as survey, diarrhea cases had been seen in the districts and central parts of the province larger than those in the past years.

He said the main reasons behind affecting with the disease was lack of access to the potable water, consuming unclean foodstuffs, milking the children through polluted utensils and eating fresh inadequately washed vegetables etc.

He said the affected individuals were mostly living in the remote districts of the province suffering lack of healthcare essentials.

According to him, the parents suffice simply using anti-polio pretending the immunization was a complete process by which they would be protected against any diseases.

He asked the parents to focus on their children’s health further than ever particularly during the harsh summer.

This is while the diarrhea disease had been spread out among the people mostly affecting the children but a few numbers were reported to be died as a result in the province.

Report: Nesar Jamal
Edit: F. Akhgar


http://www.wakht.com/en/019863.php

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Cholera outbreak in Afghanistan

Source: http://www.minews26.com/content/?p=8248


Cholera outbreak in southeast Afghanistan kills 14

POSTED June 18, 2011 BY BNO News

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- A sudden outbreak of cholera in southeastern Afghanistan has killed at least fourteen people and infected dozens more, local media reported on Saturday.

The Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) agency reported that the epidemic in southern Zabul province broke out earlier this week, infecting at least 84 people. Fourteen of them have died as of Saturday, according to Deputy Governor Mohammad Jan Rasulyar...

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera outbreak in Afghanistan

Wednesday June 22, 2011
Cholera?s quick outbreak, kills 17 in Zabul, Kandahar 2011-06-22 14:49

Wakht New Agency
Qalat/Kandahar City-(June.22)

Cholera was spreading in Kandahar and Zabul provinces in which seven people including children had died and as many were under medical treatment, an official said on Wednesday.

Expressing concern over the critical spread of the disease, Director for Zabul Provincial Rural Rehabilitation Department RRD, Eng. Ghulam Qader told Wakht News agency that the disease has been found 6 days back in Isqah Zai village of Maroof district of Kandahar province, where 14 children has been died.

He said simultaneously, 30 people have been affected by cholera in Salam village, Atghar district Zabul province where five had been died and 24 were under treatment.

The Director said however the reason behind the outbreak of the disease were not still clear but the drinking water sources, the residents use were springs, Karezes and wells as reportedly, the springs and Karezes were dried and now people were using the wells used for irrigation.

According to him, on June 20, 2011 the provincial department of health, Afghan Red Cross and Bayat Foundation (a local agency) has provided the basic assistance and medicines.

DRRD Zabul has recommended disinfection of wells and requested chlorine tablets and powders from UNICEF Kandahar.

Nearly 18 lost their life as a result of cholera diseases outbreak in southern Kandahar province last week.

Report and edit: F. Akhgar



http://www.wakht.com/en/020003.php

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Cholera outbreak in Afghanistan

Afghan, US airmen respond to cholera outbreak

Posted 6/27/2011 Email story Print story



by Capt. Jamie Humphries
438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

6/27/2011 - KABUL, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Members of the Afghan air force and 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, transported physicians and medical supplies to the district of Ma'ruf in support of a cholera outbreak recently.

Five physicians from the Afghan Health Development Services were transported to the district in Zabul province where more than 70 civilians and military members in the region currently have the disease. Approximately 200 more have been exposed and have the initial symptoms.

Cholera is an infection that occurs in the small intestine and is usually transmitted by consuming contaminated drinking water, or food. Symptoms of the disease are vomiting and diarrhea and if left untreated, can lead to rapid dehydration. According to the Centers for Disease Control, cholera can be treated by oral rehydration solution, or antibiotics.

Because of the rapid infection and amount of people impacted by the outbreak, the AAF was tasked to provide support by airlifting five local physicians, chlorine to treat the water and approximately 1,300 pounds of medical equipment aboard a Mi-17 helicopter to the affected region.

After being notified, afghan air force irmen and 738th AEAG advisers began to plan their mobilization efforts. After coordinating with Regional Command South medical professionals, the team decided that none of the current patients should be moved. That critical information was passed along to aircrews and local physicians.

"The response to the cholera outbreak in Ma'ruf was an excellent example of U.S. advisers enabling the Afghan air force to redirect air assets in order to perform a higher-priority mission and provide critical assistance where it was needed most," said Maj. Eric Glasz, who is assigned to the 738th AEAG.

After planning the trip to Ma'ruf, the five physicians from Kandahar, Afghanistan, worked with 738th AEAG medical advisers to plan the evacuation of patients to Mir Wies Hospital in Kandahar City. The doctors collected chlorine and transported it to the base. According to officials, chlorine effectively kills microbial waterborne pathogens and can kill waterborne disease. Advisors from the group provided support on the plan of action but indicated the mission was Afghan led.

"The physicians were able to assess the areas needs and administer the needed medication and water treatment and lessen the effect of the outbreak," said Tech. Sgt. Steve Guillen, 738th AEAG. "The information they gathered on the mission was important in the efforts for continued support to the region. Our Afghan partners were grateful and satisfied with what they were able to achieve during the mission."

Through the efforts of Airmen in the operation's cell and medical advising role, the local physicians were transported and assisted in the effort to aid fellow Afghans.

"I feel good about the mission to Ma'ruf," said Afghan air force Maj. Azizullah, an Mi-17 instructor pilot. "It was the first time we flew there, and I am happy it was a successful and safe mission."

According to the CDC, the most recent outbreak of cholera occurred in Haiti in December of 2010.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123261674