Cholera in the Sahel

UNICEF warned that an outbreak of cholera last week which left two children dead and 34 ill could be the precursor of a major outbreak in Mali and Niger.
 
Since mid-June, the number of people affected by the highly infectious and deadly waterborne disease has shot up in the Sahel, especially in Niger's regions bordering the Niger River, where the Ministry of Health reports nearly three times as many cholera patients in the first half of 2012 compared to the same period last year.
 
"Malnutrition, displacement, and now rains in some parts of the Sahel create the ideal breeding ground for cholera, which hits young children hardest," said Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Acting Regional Director for West and Central Africa. "Unless we step up our efforts immediately, cholera will continue to claim the lives of the most vulnerable families in the Sahel and spread to other populated areas with a devastating impact."
 
This year, the outbreaks appear to be concentrated further to the west around Niger and Mali, where their impact is exacerbated by massive displacement of people fleeing the conflict in northern Mali.There is a danger of the disease spreading during the rainy season. UNICEF is appealing for more funds to tackle the crisis before it gets out of hand.