Cholera epidemic in Guinea: 41 deaths, 655 cases recorded
By Abdourahmane Diallo/WADR Correspondent
A Cholera epidemic has killed 41 people in Guinea, as authorities struggle to contain some 655 cases reported so far.
Guinea’s Minister of Health and Public Hygiene Dr Naman Kéita made the disclosure to Journalists in Conakry at the weekend.
The first cholera cases were recorded last February, but it was only last week that the Health Ministry confirmed that the epidemic was spreading amid the rainy season.
The prefectures of Forécariah, Boffa, Boké, Mamou, Koya, Dubréka, and the city of Conakry are the most affected, with 41 deaths and a total of 655 cases recorded.
Health Minister Keita told Journalists that measures were being taken to contain the cholera epidemic by the government in collaboration with its health partners.
“There is free care for all the victims of cholera, the supply of medicines and equipments needed for the free care of the cholera cases in the anti cholera processing centers (CTC) set up in the most affected prefectures and the households disinfection.
We are distributing chlorine and soaps to families and neighbors of patients as well as disinfectors in some districts in Conakry,” the Guinean Health Minister said.
He also spoke of disinfecting the docks where ferry-boats are loading passengers commuting from different places.
Keita added that “the vaccination against cholera is going for hundred and forty three thousand people in Bofa and in Forécariah, which registered the largest number of cases and deaths.”
Since the beginning of July, the rainiest month in Guinea, the number of cholera cases has increased especially in Conakry, a situation worsened by the unsanitary condition in the city.
The health Minister is therefore calling on the general public in Guinea to respect for the basic rules of hygiene.
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