DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Cholera spreads among displaced in Kibati Camp

Record ID: 345193

  • Title: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Cholera spreads among displaced in Kibati Camp
  • Date: 11th November 2008
  • Summary: LITTLE BOY CARRYING WATER ON HEAD
  • Embargoed: 26th November 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Health
  • Reuters ID: LVA6O2F3ROFTM5HH3M2PDISB7YER
  • Story Text: International aid confirms an outbreak of Cholera in the Eastern Congo camp.
    French Charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) confirmed an outbreak of cholera in east Congo's camp Kibati on Monday (November 10), as concerns grew that the region's conflict could escalate even further.
    Aid agencies are worried that the hundreds of thousands uprooted as a result of the recent upsurge in fighting in North Kivu, could be facing yet another problem: Cholera.
    ''Since Friday, which is now 4 days ago, we've had 48 cases that we strongly suspect of being cholera to our cholera treatment centre," said MSF Project Coordinator In Kibati Megane Hunter, in an interview with Reuters.
    Despite the round-the-clock treatment centre, there are worries of a surge in the bacterial condition amongst the displaced.

    "We are concerned about the situation in the camp because hygiene conditions are not very good and cholera is a disease that spread much more quickly when hygiene conditions are bad so when there are not enough retrains, if people do not have access to clean water that they can properly wash their hands, they are at much more risk to get cholera than if they live in good hygienic conditions. So because of that we are concerned about this increasing cases that we've seen," added Hunter.
    Cholera is caused by a waterborne bacteria which can also be transmitted through infected excrement and vomit. It causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting and general weakness. If left untreated, the patient may die very quickly of dehydration. Treatment consists of re-hydration through perfusion and oral solutions containing mineral salts and glucose.
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