Whooping cough death toll rises

A total of 175 children have died of a whooping cough outbreak in Kimatong Budi county, Equatoria state, according to NGO sources. Two of the deaths occurred on Tuesday. Almost 1,000 suspected cases have been observed to date, with over 560 this week alone, Ed Walker of Tearfund told IRIN. He said 860 cases had been confirmed, with most of them under five years of age. A mass treatment and prevention campaign is being carried out in several locations around the villages of Chawa, Kimatong, Thurunge and Kali with families being treated once a member has become infected. So far 82 of those infected have also tested positive for malaria, said Medair, another NGO. There has been no NGO presence in the area for five years, and only one health facility in operation with limited medicines. There are no laboratory facilities. With chronic malaria (and ongoing rains bringing further mosquitoes), the almost total lack of healthcare and no vaccinations, children were very likely to become infected, warned Els Stamm, programme coordinator for Medair. Medair and Tearfund are jointly carrying out treatment and health education programmes in the area.