A cholera epidemic has killed 35 people in Niger out of more than 800 patients identified in six regions of the country, including the capital Niamey, the Ministry of Health announced Thursday (August 19th).
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On August 9, the ministry had reported 213 cases and 12 deaths in three regions: Maradi (south-east), Zinder (center-south) and Dosso (south-west), all bordering Nigeria where an epidemic of the disease “
Has been raging for several months
” in federated states.
But the epidemic has since spread to Niamey and the regions of Tahoua and Tillabéri (west).
On Monday August 16, the total number of cases rose to 845 and that of deaths to "
35, a case fatality rate of 4.2%
", according to figures released Thursday, August 19 by the Directorate of Surveillance and Ministry of Health epidemic response.
In Niamey, two isolation sites are already hosting children and adults struck down by cholera, according to images broadcast by public television.
Niger has announced that the World Health Organization (WHO) has offered it drugs and equipment worth more than 172 million FCFA (over 262,000 euros) to help it curb the epidemic.
Stocks of drugs and rapid screening tests have been sent to the affected regions where patients are treated free of charge in isolation sites, assures the Nigerien government.
In addition, the health authorities "
call
" the population "
to present themselves urgently in a care center
" as soon as "
the appearance of signs
" suspected of cholera including "
diarrhea and vomiting
".
Heavy rains favor cholera contraction
Due to flooding linked to heavy rains in infected areas, experts fear an outbreak of this diarrheal disease caused by the ingestion of contaminated food or water, which is highly contagious.
The rains, which have been falling in Niger since June, have killed 64 people and more than 70,000 victims, according to a report published last week by the authorities of this Sahelian country with a usually very dry climate.
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In 2018, a cholera epidemic killed 78 out of 3,824 cases recorded in Niger, mainly in areas near Nigeria, according to the WHO).