Disease

Dengue Fever – Burkina Faso

Since August 2016, suspected dengue fever cases and deaths have been reported in Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso.

From 5 August to 12 November 2016, a total of 1061 probable (Dengue Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) positive) cases out of 1266 suspected cases were reported with a cumulative total of 15 deaths (CFR 1.2%). All cases have been reported from all 12 districts of Ouagadougou. In addition, two other regions have reported cases, Sahel Region in the north (12 RDT positive cases) and the Hauts-Bassins region in the west (6 RDT positive cases).

Diptheria in Pakistan

An alarming increase has been noticed in diphtheria cases in the already troubled South and North Waziristan agencies. Dozens of children have died of the highly contagious disease with no steps as yet being taken by the authorities to control the malady.

Around 30 children have died so far, while hundreds of others have been infected because of a severe dearth of medicines.

Doctors say that the disease has spread from children living in IDPs camps in the district because they were left unvaccinated as most of the tribal areas don’t have vaccinations.