Angola’s cholera crisis is deteriorating as the number of deaths exceeds 300: Who

Geneva: Angola’s cholera epidemic has killed more than 300 people since January, with thousands of contaminated as the disease is spreading rapidly across the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned.

The outburst has now claimed 329 lives, which said on Saturday, warning that the risk of further transmission in the country and surrounding areas was “very high”.

The African -rich nation has experienced a significant cholera epidemic since January, with a total of 8,543 cases recorded on March 23. Angola struggles with high poverty rates and poor drainage despite its oil wealth.

WHO reported that the epidemic had quickly spread to 16 of the 21 Angola provinces, affecting people of all age groups, with the highest weight between them under 20 years of age.

“The Ministry of Health, with the support of where and associates, manages the response of the cholera epidemic through the detection of cases, the development of rapid reaction groups, the Community commitment and the vaccination campaign,” the UN Health Service said.

“Given the rapidly evolving epidemic, the ongoing rains and cross -border movement with neighboring countries, which evaluate the risk of further transmission to Angola and the surrounding areas as very high.”

Namibia, Angola’s southern neighbor, recorded his first cholera case in almost a decade, the African Union’s health service said earlier this month. The 55 -year -old woman was recovered and released from the hospital.

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and water infected with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, often from stool.

It causes severe diarrhea, vomiting and muscle cramps.

Cholera can kill in a matter of hours when not treated, although it can be treated with simple oral re -era and antibiotics for more severe cases.

There has been a global increase in cholera cases and their geographical spread from 2021.

Between January 1st and March 23rd of this year, a total of 93,172 cases and 1,197 deaths in 24 countries were reported, with 60 % of cases in Africa, the WHO said.