18 January 2018 – The Ministry of Health of Somalia has detected an outbreak of cholera in Beledweyne and Banadir regions starting 4 December 2017, reporting a total of 388 suspected cases and 0 deaths for the month of December. Out of 41 stool samples tested, 21 have proven positive for vibrio cholera bacteria.
WHO and health partners are supporting the Ministry of Health to respond to the outbreak and prevent the spread of the disease through response activities including pre-positioning of supplies, training of community health workers and water quality surveillance.
Cholera treatment centres (CTCs) have been opened in Beledweyne and Banadir with support from local NGOs. There are 265 health facilities reporting to the Early Warning Alert and Response Network (EWARNs) on the weekly basis. Mobile teams have been deployed in high risk villages of Beledweyne district, and community education and mobilisation has been conducted in all regions affected by cholera.
The outbreak can be attributed to contaminated water from River Shabelle where safe water sources are reported to have dried up. Another contributing factor is uncontrolled movement of people in the affected regions.
