Cholera death toll may rise

A cholera outbreak in Maputo, capital city of Mozambique, has killed six people since Christmas, and there is concern that the number could increase dramatically. The government is set to have a meeting with international aid agencies and donors to put forward its concerns and possibly appeal for assistance. Dr Pierre Kahozi of the World Health Organisation (WHO) told IRIN on Wednesday the outbreak was "still ongoing" and it was feared the death toll could rise. "Up to this morning there had been six people who have died. The outbreak started on Christmas Eve, and yesterday there were 86 new cases admitted to the cholera treatment centre [in Maputo]. The day before it was 73, so the outbreak is still ongoing - and with rains the number will increase dramatically," Kahozi warned. Cholera is endemic in Mozambique, but Kahozi noted that this year's outbreak seemed to be more severe than last year's. "Normally by this time of year we have cholera, but the number has increased compared to last year," he said. Kahozi said that "so far we have cases in ... Sofala province, Gaza province, Maputo province and in Maputo city itself", all in the south of the country. "On Friday, the ministry [of health] is convening a meeting with partners to inform the international community about the situation, and also to make a kind of appeal. Because the outbreak is expanding to other provinces there is a need to take preventative measures - even in those areas where there are no reported cases as yet," Kahozi said. Medecines Sans Frontieres-Switzerland head of mission in Mozambique, Gerard Bedock, told IRIN they were providing safe drinking water in two cholera affected neighbourhoods in Maputo. "We are also doing some chlorination of wells in some areas, and are continuously going to the cholera treatment centre to identify where people [admitted with cholera] are from. This is so we can go to their families and do some treatment with chlorine," he explained. Bedock said a major cause for concern had been the lack of staff at the cholera treatment centre. However, Kahozi added that WHO was looking at providing funding to allow extra staff to be employed at the treatment centre.