Undertaking measures against cholera

A surge in cases of watery diarrhoea has raised concerns of an impending cholera outbreak in the crumbling capital Bissau.

“In recent days we have received a lot of cases of intense diarrhoea among children and adults. It is for this reason that we have decided to reinforce the measures of control to avoid the spread of diarrhoea,” said Placido Cardoso, the director general of health.

The Health Ministry has ordered the closure of all traditional wells in the capital and urged the suspension of traditional ceremonies in an effort to prevent large gatherings that might facilitate the spread of disease.

But many Bissau residents say they have no choice but to draw their water from traditional wells as the street taps where they collect their water are frequently switched off over non-payment of water bills.

It was not immediately clear to health authorities whether any of the diarrhoea cases represented cholera, which has become a recurring problem in impoverished Guinea Bissau.

Last year, Guinea Bissau bore the brunt of a cholera epidemic that afflicted over 42,000 people across West Africa. Some 26,000 people were stricken and more than 400 died of the water borne disease in tiny Guinea Bissau alone. The first cases of cholera in West Africa this year have already been confirmed in Niger and neighbouring Guinea.

“We must recognise that the threat of cholera exists and for this reason I would like to ask the population of Guinea Bissau in general to reinforce personal and collective hygiene measures,” said Cardoso.

He said latrine construction and distribution of potable water in Bissau’s poorest neighbourhoods was underway.

Officials have appealed to Bissau merchants to reinforce efforts to keep food clean that is sold in the capital’s markets.

Cholera is an intestinal infection that is highly contagious and leads to acute diarrhoea and often vomiting. If untreated it can kill within days. However, simple and cheap re-hydration salts and fluids nearly always result in a cure.

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