Disease

Cholera – United Republic of Tanzania

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) of Tanzania has notified WHO of foci of cholera outbreaks in the country. Rorya district in the Mara region of Tanzania was the first area to report a cholera outbreak. By late July 2015, the Kigoma region also became affected – although no new case has been recorded in this area in more than three weeks. On 25 August, new foci of cholera were identified in Dar es Salaam, Pwani (Coast), Iringa and Morogoro. The cholera outbreak in the Dar es Salaam region began on 15 August, whilst the outbreak in the Morogoro region started on 18 August. As of 6 September, the cumulative number of cholera cases (both suspected and confirmed) is 971 cases, including 13 deaths. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa in the affected areas.

France to vaccinate livestock following bluetongue outbreak

France is preparing a widespread vaccination campaign for livestock following an outbreak of bluetongue disease on a farm in the centre of the country, the government said on Friday.

France, the European Union's biggest agricultural producer, had been declared free of bluetongue on its mainland since 2012 and the return of the viral disease could lead to restrictions of live animal exports in another setback for livestock farmers, who have been protesting about falling meat and dairy prices.

The disease, which affects ruminants but not humans, was detected in the Allier administrative department in central France, part of a major cattle region.

The authorities are introducing a wider 150 km restriction zone around the farm, with limits on livestock movements, and have ordered 1.3 million doses of a vaccine to tackle the disease.