23 September 2019 – The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Somalia has announced 39 new suspected cases of cholera, with no deaths, for epidemiological week 37 (9 to 15 September) in 2019. No suspected cholera cases were reported between epidemiological weeks 1 and 7 due to the closure of the main cholera treatment center, from which the data was collected. The cumulative total number of suspected cholera cases since the beginning of this outbreak in December 2017 is 8719, including 46 associated deaths. During this period, all of the cases were reported from a total of 17 districts in Banadir region. Of the 39 cases reported during this last epidemiological week, 17 cases (44%) are children below 5 years of age.
The cholera outbreak has been contained in the districts of Jubaland, Hirshabelle and South West States following the implementation of oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaigns and other health interventions in these areas. Active transmission is still being reported in Banadir region where over the past two weeks there has been an increase in the reported number of cholera cases from 29 in week 36 to 39 in week 37. The most affected districts in Banadir are Madina and Hodan. The overall reduction in the number of new cholera cases is attributed to improved implementation of preventive interventions including OCV and the strengthening of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities in the hot spots.
Of the 813 stool samples tested since December 2017, a total of 160 samples tested positive for Vibrio cholerae.
During weeks 24 and 26 WHO and MoH implemented OCV campaign in 6 cholera high risk districts of Kahda, Hamajajab and Heliwa in Banadir region, as well as Kismayo, Balad and Afgoi. A total of 621 875 people (96.7%) aged 1 year and above received the first dose of the cholera vaccine.
WHO continues to provide leadership and supports health authorities and partners in activities to mitigate the outbreak. The disease surveillance system is managed by the Electronic Early Warning Alert and Response Network (EWARN) system with the support of WHO and is currently being expanded to all health facilities across the country. WHO and the MoH continue to monitor outbreak trends through the EWARN system and promptly investigate and respond to all alerts.
