35 reportedly die of cholera in Adale

At least 35 people were confirmed dead and another 80 were in hospital in Adale, central Somalia, the transitional Health Minister, Ahmed Sheik Mohamud ‘Amore’, told IRIN on Monday. The worst hit areas were the villages of Massajid, Ali Gaduud and Geel Gub, all in the vicinity of Adale town, he said. According to ‘Amore’, there were also suspected cases of cholera in the Gubta, Buulo Huubey, in south Mogadishu, and in Karan in the north of the city. So far no deaths had been reported in the capital, and both people and the government were organising emergency help to send to Adale, he said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) told IRIN that they have not yet confirmed that what was happening in Adale was an outbreak of cholera. Dr Firdosi Mehta, medical officer with WHO Somalia, said that stool samples from the affected people would be sent to the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Monday or Tuesday for analysis. WHO did have reports of “increases in diarrhoea cases in Adale,” he said. According to Dr Mehta, 65 cases and three deaths were reported to WHO, which had “repositioned supplies for initial response” and had a cholera plan in place in every region. Local health workers “appear to have things under control,” Dr Mehta added. The local health team consists of nine nurses and three auxiliaries, supported by a doctor sent by UNICEF.