Uganda: Cholera (Situation as of 31 March , 2012)

A total of 724 cases and 28 deaths (CFR: 4%) were reported from six districts

Event description

The Uganda Ministry of Health has reported cholera epidemics in 6 districts scattered across the country. The districts affected are Mbale, Sironko and Bududa in the Eastern region; Kasese and Buliisa districts in the West and South Western regions; and Nebbi district in the West Nile sub-region (Northern Uganda). Between the months of February and March 2012 a cumulative of 358 cases with 18 deaths (CFR = 5.0%) has been registered from the districts of Mbale, Sironko, Buliisa, Bududa and Nebbi. In Kasese district a cumulative of 366 cases including 10 deaths (CFR = 2.7%) have been registered as of March 2012. The causative agent for the cholera epidemics has been confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) as being Vibrio cholerae O1 biotype El Tor serotype Inaba.

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Chad: Meningitis outbreak (Situation as of 25 March , 2012)

A total of 1 708 cases and 88 deaths (CFR: 5%) reported, seven districts experiencing meningitis epidemic

Event description

The Ministry of Health in Chad has reported an outbreak of meningococcal meningitis which started in the 2nd week of January 2012. As of 25 March 2012, a total of 1 708 cases and 88 deaths have been reported from 45 districts. The following 7 districts: Oumhadjer, Massakory, Lere, Amdam, Aboudea, Amtiman and Donamanga have crossed the epidemic threshold and Bebeto, Koumra and Moissala crossed the alert threshold.

Laboratory results confirmed Neisseria meningitis A as the dominant pathogen in all the districts which crossed the epidemic and alert threshold.

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Nigeria: Lassa Fever outbreak (Situation as of 22 March, 2012)

A total of 623 cases and 70 deaths (CFR: 11.2%) were reported from 19 states

Event description

At the beginning of 2012, WHO was noti-fied by The Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria of an outbreak of Lassa fever. As of March 22, 2012, 623 cases including 70 deaths (CFR 11.2%) have been reported from 19 out of 36 States. Of these, 108 have been laboratory confirmed. Three doctors and four nurses were reported to be among the fatalities.

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Cholera: Situation in the WHO African Region

A total of 10 691 cases and 179 deaths (CFR: 1.7%) reported from 13 countries as of 29 February 2012

Highlight

Between January and February 2012, a cumulative total of 10 691 cases and 178 deaths were reported from 13 countries ( CFR: 1.7%). The Democratic Re-public of Congo and sierra Leone accounted for 86% of the total number of cases and 65% of the total num-ber of deaths (Table 1, Figs 1 and 2)

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