Mozambique: Cholera outbreaks

[alert]

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?glide=EP-20091130-24013-MOZ&cat=dis&lang=eng

The cholera outbreak in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado has spread to a fourth district, Namuno. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Leonardo Chavane, told reporters on Friday that three cases of cholera have been diagnosed in Namuno. The other districts affected by the outbreak are Montepuez, Ancuabe and Mocimboa da Praia. Between them the four districts have registered 408 cases. The worst hit district is Montepuez, with 291 cases. To date, six people have died in the outbreak, three in Montepuez and three in Ancuabe. In Ancuabe, rumours spread that health workers were causing cholera, not curing it. This led to a mob attack on a cholera treatment centre in the village of Muaja a fortnight ago, in which four people died when the police opened fire, and six others were arrested. Attacks on health workers have occurred repeatedly in northern Mozambique, and it is sometimes speculated that the root of the problem lies in confusion between the words "cholera" and "chlorine" ("cloro" in Portuguese). Health workers use chlorine to disinfect wells, and are then accused of putting cholera in the water. Chavane denied that the Health Ministry had failed in its task of health education. "It doesn't seem that there's anything going wrong in the Ministry", he said. "Rather, it seems that there are some people within the communities with obscure intentions. It is incomprehensible that, in a situation where we have health problems and staff are trying to deal with these problems, people emerge in the communities vandalizing the treatment centres". The Ministry fears that the cholera situation will worsen at the height of the rainy season in January and February. "We are permanently on the alert to control new outbreaks", said Chavane. From the beginning of the year up until now 19,310 cases of cholera have been diagnosed in the entire country. Of these people, 154 have died. Chavane also announced that in the past two weeks there have been no further cases of swine flu reported in the country. To date there are just 57 confirmed cases, and 130 suspected cases of this type of flu (influenza A, sub-type H1N1, to give it its scientific name).

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Mozambique: Cholera outbreaks

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/200912300759.html

Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)

Mozambique: Cholera Outbreak Under Control
30 December 2009

Maputo ? The Mozambican health authorities say that the cholera outbreak that began in August in parts of northern and central Mozambique is now under control, as a result of awareness campaigns among the population about prevention and treatment measures, reports Wednesday's issue of the daily paper 'Noticias'.

The National Deputy Director of Public Health, Leonardo Chavane, said that only one case of the disease was notified during the last 24 hours, and that was in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.

Since the outbreak began, affecting Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Sofala provinces, 764 cases of cholera were diagnosed, resulting in 66 deaths.

"We are currently recording a drop in the number of cholera cases and the trend is one of decline", said Chavane. He said that, of the total number of deaths, 50 were reported in Cabo Delgado, 13 in Niassa, and three in Sofala.

He pointed out that despite the significant stabilization, the health authorities are keeping alert for any eventual worsening of the situation, particularly taking into account that Mozambique is now in the rainy season, when the risk from water-borne diseases such as cholera is always higher.

Chavane revealed that, from 1 January to the present, 19,666 cases of cholera, resulting in 155 deaths, were reported across the entire country.

As for swine flu (or H1N1 influenza, to give the disease its scientific name), Chavane said that no new cases were reported or suspected in the country during the past three weeks, but he reiterated the call for strict observance of individual and collective hygiene in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Mozambique: Cholera outbreaks

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Mozambique: One Dead in Cholera Riot
15 February 2010

Maputo ? one person died and three others were injured in a clash on Friday between the Mozambican police and a crowd of about 300 people who attacked a health post at Macaroja, in Moma district, in the northern province of Nampula.

This is the latest outbreak of violence caused by the rumours that health staff are deliberately spreading cholera. It is thought that this disinformation may have arisen out of a confusion between the Portuguese words for cholera and for chlorine, which can sound vaguely similar. Chlorine is used to disinfect water sources.

Unlike previous attacks on health posts, the Friday raid took place at a time when no cholera cases have been reported in Moma.

According to a report on Radio Mozambique, the man who died led the attack on the health centre. He received a bullet in the stomach when he was trying to seize a gun from one of the police officers.

The mob was armed with machetes and clubs. They destroyed the solar panel that provided the electricity for the health centre. They also stole the centre's radio transmitter, and beds, mattresses and sheets.

The raid may well have been politically motivated, since the gang also attacked the local offices of the ruling Frelimo Party. The Frelimo flag was torn down and destroyed. Parts of a local primary school were also vandalized.

The police say they have arrested ten people accused of spreading the cholera rumour.

Mad/pf (250)

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Mozambique: Cholera outbreaks

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/25/AR2010022501553.html

36 dead from cholera outbreak in Mozambique
The Associated Press
Thursday, February 25, 2010; 7:12 AM

MAPUTO, Mozambique -- Mozambique's health minister says 36 people have died this year from a cholera outbreak in the northern and central parts of the southern African country.

Leonardo Chavane says more than 1,000 people have contracted the highly contagious yet easily preventable infection this year.

He said Thursday the situation is worrying because new cases are being reported daily and are complicated by rumors that health staff are spreading cholera rather than fighting it. Earlier this month, Mozambique's state radio said seven people died in a riot sparked by such false rumors.

Chavane said health workers and community leaders in Zambezia and Nampul provinces have also been attacked by mobs. In other areas, health centers have been destroyed.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Mozambique: Cholera outbreaks

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Mozambique: Cholera Outbreaks in Five Provinces
25 February 2010


Maputo ? The chorea outbreaks in northern and central Mozambique have taken 36 lives so far this year, but no cases have been reported from the south of the country, according to the spokesperson for the Health Ministry, Leonardo Chavana.

Chavana told reporters on Thursday that the worst hit province is Zambezia, where 879 cases were diagnosed between 1 January and 23 February, 17 of whom died. In Cabo Delgado, there were 500 cases and seven deaths, and in Niassa 416 cases and 11 deaths. Nampula reported 74 cases with just one death. In Sofala province none of the 99 cholera patients died.

"The situation is still very worrying", said Chavana, because new cases of the disease are still being reported every day. The latest day for which there are full records is 22 February, when 45 new cases were diagnosed - 22 in Zambezia, 12 in Niassa, eight in Cabo Delgado and three in Nampula.

Matters have been complicated by the rumours that health staff are spreading cholera rather than fighting it. This has led to mobs attacking health workers and community leaders in Gurue district, in Zambezia, and in Moma, on the coast of Nampula. In Moma, one health centre was wrecked, thus sabotaging health provision for about 24,000 people.

Chavana stressed that the disinformation about cholera was not a general phenomenon and health workers were able to do their jobs safely in most of the areas hit by cholera outbreaks.

The cholera riots in Gurue and Moma were not matters that the Health Ministry could be expected to deal with on its own, he said. They were "social convulsions", caused by "agitation". When it was pointed that the mob that attacked the Moma health centre was 300 strong, Chavana replied "you only need one person to mobilise 300 others".

Health officials, he said, have tried to work with the communities, with the traditional leaders and with the local governments to explain what cholera is, how it is transmitted and how it can be prevented. But he admitted there were clearly problems of communication and of educating the public.

The key to defeating cholera was water hygiene, Chavana stressed. That did not mean simply putting chlorine into water sources - he regarded this form of water purification as a last resort. Simper measures could have major effects on preventing the spread of the disease - such as building small protective walls around wells, so that when it rains the surrounding filth is not all swept into the well.

Chavana stressed the need to ensure good hygiene in the home too - ensuring that containers used for carrying water are clean, and are always kept covered and free of flies. Wherever possible, water should be boiled before drinking.

Asked about an outbreak of typhoid fever in Tete province, Chavana said that last year 130 cases had been diagnosed in Tsangano district, on the border with Malawi, and of these 16 had died. So far this year, ten cases have been diagnosed, but there have been no further deaths.

As for swine flu (or the H1N1 flu variant), Chavana said that since December no cases, or even suspected cases, have been reported anywhere in Mozambique. Two people died of swine flu in Mozambique last year.

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Mozambique: Cholera outbreaks

Mozambique humanitarian situation update, 12 March 2010
Source: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Date: 12 Mar 2010


Major Developments

The Government of Mozambique declared a red alert on 9 March following localised flooding in several parts of the country due to heavy rainfall in Mozambique and in neighbouring Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Since the issuance of the red alert, the National Institute for Disaster Management has held daily meetings at the Central Emergency Operations Centre with focal points from various government agencies and members of the humanitarian clusters to provide updates on the situation and response in the affected areas.

The water levels of the Zambeze and P?ngo? rivers continue to be above alert levels. The Zambezi river shows tendency to increase in Caia and Marromeu, while the P?ngo? basin in Mafambisse shows tendency to decrease due to a drop in rainfall in neighbouring countries. While below alert levels, the Save Basin has registered a 30-centimetre increase in less than 24 hours at Vila Franca do Save.

Output from the Cahora Bassa Dam is currently at 4,700 cubic metres per second. However, the water levels in Zumbo are expected to increase from 5.2 m to 6.1 m on 12 March, which might lead to an increase in Cahora Bassa Dam discharges.

The National Institute for Disaster Management estimate that 130,000 people currently live in close proximity to river banks. To date, a preliminary assessment identified 13,000 people living in areas that may be affected by localised floods; so far, 3,882 people (777 families) have been identified as needing assistance and have been relocated to secure areas on higher ground in Chemba, Mopeia, Mutarara and Nhamatanda. According to the National Meteorological institute moderate rainfall is expected in Niassa and Nampula provinces as well as in Malawi, Zambia and Angola in the coming days.

In the next 48 hours (12 ? 13 March) it is expected that the Zambeze basin levels will remain above alert level, with a tendency to increase. This could aggravate localised floods, especially in Mutarara, Caia, Megaza/Morrumbala and Marromeu. The P?ngo? basin in Mafambisse will remain above alert level, with a tendency to decrease.

Preliminary Assessments

According to the National Institute for Disaster Management, the shortage of rains earlier in the year has had a negative impact on the first cycle of crops. To overcome the situation, the populations living along the rivers were advised to grow their second cycle crops in the low lands close to the rivers. However, with the heavy rain falls and the rapid increase of the river water levels, these areas are at risk of being flooded.

As a preventive measure, the National Institute for Disaster Management has initiated a compulsive evacuation process for the population living in the low lands. The Government's strategy is not to establish accommodation centres as most of the families being evacuated were given plots as part of the emergency recovery programme in 2007 and 2008. The affected populations are being relocated to existing villages, or 'bairros'.

The national authorities are recommending a continued multi-sectoral monitoring of the bairros where affected populations are being relocated to ensure that their basic needs ? shelter, water and sanitation, among others ? are catered for.

In Sofala province, 19 new cholera cases were registered, bringing the total number of cases in Sofala province to 213 cases and 1 death to date. In addition, six cholera cases were registered in Nampula province and six in Cabo Delgado province, bringing the total to 31 new cases nation-wide. In cumulative terms, 2,580 cholera cases and 41 deaths have been registered in the country.

According to national authorities the education sector has not yet been affected. However, 10 schools in Tete province (Inhangoma district) may become inaccessible due to their proximity to the flooded areas. In Sofala province (Nhamatanda, Marromeu and Caia districts) all schools are running normally. In Zambezia, three primary (EP1) schools are at risk of being closed down. In Niassa, near the Malawi border, one school was affected but has since been repaired, allowing children access to the school.

UNICEF Response

Supporting the national authorities, UNICEF and other UN and non-governmental partners are closely monitoring and assessing the situation in the affected areas to ensure that needs are identified and immediately addressed.

Coordination and assessment

In coordination with the National Institute for Disaster Management and the Red Cross, a UNICEF team has been deployed to the affected areas to conduct field assessment missions in Mutarara and Mopeia districts in order to determine the basic needs of evacuated and displaced populations, especially children and women.

Supply and programmatic response

Health: Cholera prevention measures are being supported in the affected areas to avoid a cholera outbreak. UNICEF is supporting health authorities to ensure cholera treatment services are available in the event of an outbreak in the affected districts. A number of supplies were distributed so far: 100 boxes of calcium chlorine (Nhamatanda district); rubber boots, plastic cups, five tents (Niassa province); five tents distributed (Zambezia province); two tents distributed (Sofala province).

Based on ongoing assessments, UNICEF is gearing up to support the distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets to the children, mothers and families in need. UNICEF Is also supporting local partners to ensure timely social mobilisation efforts on adequate use of mosquito nets at household level.

Water and sanitation: A submersible pump is being replaced in Mutarara in support of the additional families that are being evacuated to the city. In addition, 5,000kg of chlorine are being to the most affected districts in Tete, Sofala, Zambezia and Manica provinces.

Protection and education: UNICEF is liaising with the education and protection government counterparts to ensure that children have uninterrupted access to school and are protected from abuse and violence.

Communication for development: Theatre groups, community radios and mobile units have been mobilised, with presence in nine affected districts (Mopeia, Morrumbaia, Chinde, Mutarara, Zumbo, Tambara, Caia, Marromeu, Chemba) in four provinces. Community radios have been contacted to ensure dissemination of messages related to the promotion of good hygiene practices and HIV prevention.

Procurement of preliminary emergency supplies: According to preliminary assessments, pre-positioned supplies are sufficient to meet the preliminary response needs. UNICEF and partners are reviewing stocks to ensure timely action in the procurement of additional supplies for the ongoing response.

A multi-sectoral food security assessment is expected to take place after the initial assessment in affected areas and 'bairros' to determine medium-term emergency response needs following the immediate response.

Inter-agency collaboration and partnerships

Two Humanitarian Country Team Working Group (HCT) meetings were held on 9 and 10 March to provide an overview of the situation and take stock of the levels of preparedness and response of various clusters. The HCT, which is comprised of UN agencies, international and national non-governmental partners, coordinates the overall humanitarian response of international partners under the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) cluster approach. UNICEF is responsible for overall day to day coordination of the work of the HCT, and is working closely with HCT partners, the National Institute for Disaster Management, line ministries and local authorities to ensure smooth coordination of the ongoing interventions.

A situation centre has been established in the UNICEF Country Office to ensure coordination within the organisation and timely information sharing with national authorities, UN agencies and non-governmental counterparts.

For more information, please contact:

Thierry Delvigne-Jean
Communication Specialist, Maputo
Tel: +258 82 3121820 +258 82 3121820
tdelvignejean@unicef.org

Alessia Turco
Emergency Specialist, Maputo
Tel: +258 823179160 +258 823179160
aturco@unicef.org

Sigrid Willibald
UNICEF Emergency Situation Centre, Maputo
Tel: +258 826897964 +258 826897964

Natalia Adler
UNICEF Emergency Situation Centre, Maputo
Tel: + 258 829164437 + 258 829164437
http://ocha-gwapps1.unog.ch/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MUMA-83H7E5?OpenDocument

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Mozambique: Cholera outbreaks

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Mozambique: 42 dead in worsening cholera outbreak

(AP)
MAPUTO, Mozambique ? Mozambique's health ministry spokesman says the country's cholera outbreak has now killed 42 people in the northern and central parts of the southern African country.

Leonardo Chavane says the disease is spreading, with more than 2,600 cases of people who have contracted the highly contagious yet easily preventable infection this year...