Disease

Venezuela - Malaria Outbreak

In a follow-up to a report earlier this month concerning the malaria epidemic in Venezuela, the organization, Observatorio Venezolano de la Salud (OVS) estimates the number of cases by the end of 2016 will be 350,000

Through August 2016, nearly 150,000 malaria cases have been reported, a 72 percent increase over 2015. In recent weeks, Venezuela is reporting between 3000 and 5000 malaria cases a week.

The projected 350,000 cases for 2016 by the OVS would account for 50 percent of all malaria cases on the continent.

Indonesian Smoke Haze - 100 000 deaths Estimated

Indonesian forest fires that choked a swath of Southeast Asia with a smoky haze for weeks last year may have caused more than 100,000 deaths, according to new research that will add to pressure on Indonesia's government to tackle the annual crisis.

The estimate of early deaths linked to respiratory illness and other causes covers Indonesia and its neighbours Singapore and Malaysia. It dwarfs Indonesia's official toll of 19 that included deaths from illness and the deaths of firefighters. However, the possible scale of serious health consequences was indicated by a statement from the country's disaster management agency in October that said more than 43 million Indonesians were exposed to smoke from the fires and half a million suffered acute respiratory infections.