![[Ethiopia] Patients at a centre set up to treat those affected by acute watery diarrhoea in Oromiya. [Date picture taken: 08/12/2006]](https://assets.thenewhumanitarian.org/s3fs-public/styles/responsive_large_2x/public/images/20068140.jpg.webp?itok=TlDMTVvn "Patients at a centre set up to treat those affected by the diarrhoea in Oromiya.")
An outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea in Ethiopia has continued to spread and the death toll had risen to 129, the country's health ministry said on Friday.
Oromiya and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ regions in the south, Amhara and Tigray in the north, and the capital, Addis Ababa, were worst affected.
"While in some parts of Ethiopia the number of infected people has started to go down, there is a new outbreak in Bale district [south-west] showing that the disease is not yet under control," Tiruwork Tafesse, the director of the disease prevention and control department at the health ministry, said.
"As of last week, 129 people had died of watery diarrhoea and 16,872 cases have been reported. We are convinced there is still a risk of the disease spreading [and] that's why we are trying to increase the work on prevention and control of the disease, by showing TV clips and informing the people," she added.
According to the ministry, 21 cases, including one death, had been reported in Addis Ababa since mid-August.
"The majority of the people who do not have access to clean water and sanitation are the ones who are currently affected by the outbreak. We are trying to pass on the message that washing hands and taking care of the water you drink is the easiest way to prevent the disease," said Tiruwork.
Acute watery diarrhoea was first reported in Gambella region in April.
eo/mw
Oromiya and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ regions in the south, Amhara and Tigray in the north, and the capital, Addis Ababa, were worst affected.
"While in some parts of Ethiopia the number of infected people has started to go down, there is a new outbreak in Bale district [south-west] showing that the disease is not yet under control," Tiruwork Tafesse, the director of the disease prevention and control department at the health ministry, said.
"As of last week, 129 people had died of watery diarrhoea and 16,872 cases have been reported. We are convinced there is still a risk of the disease spreading [and] that's why we are trying to increase the work on prevention and control of the disease, by showing TV clips and informing the people," she added.
According to the ministry, 21 cases, including one death, had been reported in Addis Ababa since mid-August.
"The majority of the people who do not have access to clean water and sanitation are the ones who are currently affected by the outbreak. We are trying to pass on the message that washing hands and taking care of the water you drink is the easiest way to prevent the disease," said Tiruwork.
Acute watery diarrhoea was first reported in Gambella region in April.
eo/mw
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