Disease

Drought contributes to cholera outbreak in southern Angola

A protracted drought followed by the onset of the rainy season in southern Angola has triggered a sharp increase in cholera cases, mainly concentrated in Cunene province, where over 1,000 infections and 48 deaths were recorded during a two-week period in November, according to figures from the Ministry of Health.

Cholera is a highly contagious disease associated with poor sanitation and access to safe drinking water. It is endemic in Angola, where nearly half of the population live in conditions conducive to the spread of the illness, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

A year-long outbreak that started in the slums of the capital, Luanda, in February 2006 and spread to 16 out of 18 provinces, resulted in over 80,000 reported cases and 3,000 deaths.

So far, the current outbreak has remained almost entirely confined to Cunene, although neighbouring Huila province has also recorded some cases. Since January 2013, the country as a whole has recorded just over 5,600 cholera cases and 190 deaths, about 70 percent of them in Cunene.

Kenya: Foot and Mouth Disease

Mombasa county government has begun vaccinating livestock following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Likoni district. County executive for livestock Binti Omar said a quarantine notice has been enforced to curb the spread of the disease.

She said the disease has affected hundreds of livestock in the district.

Omar attributed the disease to an influx of pastoralists from neighbouring districts of Kwale, bordering Tanzania seeking pastures and water for their livestock.

Karachi heading for explosive polio outbreak

Pakistan's biggest city Karachi could be headed for a "explosive polio outbreak", the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned today after two more cases of the crippling disease were reported within 24 hours.

Pakistan is one of only three countries where polio is endemic. Immunisation campaigns have been affected by a ban imposed by the Taliban, who have killed several vaccinators in attacks in Karachi and the restive northwest.