A cholera epidemic has killed 104 people in Niger among 2,874 patients identified in six regions of the country, including the capital Niamey, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday (September 3rd).
Read alsoNiger: a cholera epidemic kills 35, Niamey affected
On August 19, the ministry had reported 845 cases and 35 deaths in Niamey and four regions, Maradi (south-east), Zinder (center-south), Dosso (south-west) and Tahoua (south-west), all border of Nigeria, also affected by the disease.
The Tillabéri region (west), in the “
three borders
” area between Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, the scene of regular jihadist attacks, is also affected, according to the ministry.
Multiplication of awareness campaigns
As of September 1, the toll rose to 104 deaths out of 2,874 patients and "
a case fatality rate of 4%
", indicate figures released Friday by the Department of Surveillance and the Response to Epidemics of the Ministry of Health.
The age group between 15 and 37 years is the most affected by the epidemic specifies the ministry, which announces the "
extinction
" of ten "
foci
" out of the 28 "
active
" across the country.
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With the support of Médecins sans frontières (MSF), the UN and the European Union, Niger is trying to curb the epidemic by increasing awareness campaigns, distributing products to treat water and disinfecting places. public transport, and wells in infected villages. 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. The health authorities call on the population "
to present themselves urgently to a health center
" as soon as "
the appearance of
suspected
signs
" of cholera, including "
diarrhea and vomiting
".
Due to the floods linked to heavy rains that have hit Niger since June, experts fear an outbreak of this highly contagious diarrheal disease caused by the ingestion of contaminated food or water. In 2018, a previous cholera epidemic killed 78 out of 3,824 cases in Niger, mainly in areas near Nigeria, according to the WHO.