Cholera epidemic in decline, says MSF

A cholera epidemic that struck the Burundi capital, Bujumbura, in recent months seems to have peaked, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) reported on Monday. At the height of the epidemic there were 32 cases per day, it said, a figure that had "decreased steadily" since 23 August. During the epidemic, MSF increased the capacity of the cholera treatment centre in Kamenge district to 100 patients. It also opened a new treatment in Rubiza district, which is now closed, and the number of patients in Kamenge was decreasing. MSF said some 600 cases were counted, and eight deaths. "The reasons behind the good results achieved are multiple," Stephen Goetghebuer, the MSF country coordinator, said, "such as good coordination between us, the Ministry of Health and ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross], early prevention measures, good emergency preparedness stock, an enthusiastic staff, and the relatively quiet area given the war circumstances." [For full story see http://www.msf.org/]