Cholera outbreak in more than twenty countries, millions of children threatened | Abroad

In eleven countries in that area, the United Nations Children’s Rights Organization sees a threat of cholera for 28 million people, including 14.2 million children. In the first week of March this year, since the outbreaks began, there were more than 93,000 cholera cases and more than 2,000 deaths recorded in Malawi, Somalia, Mozambique, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Sudan, Burundi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Cholera is caused by Vibrio cholerae. This bacteria is found in surface water and can be transmitted by drinking it or eating contaminated food. Anyone who comes into contact with the faeces of an infected person can also contract cholera.

The patient suddenly vomits a lot and has watery stools. This can lead to severe dehydration and death. Clean drinking water as well as clean toilets are important to prevent the spread of cholera and once infected, prompt treatment is necessary.

In principle, an infection in a child can be treated well, but in Mozambique and Malawi, for example, according to UNICEF, health services are less accessible as a result of Hurricane Freddie. This increases the risk of serious illness and death among children there.

“The infectious disease poses a serious risk to children in these countries who already live in vulnerable conditions,” said Lieke van de Wiel, deputy regional director for UNICEF in the area. “Cholera is yet another burden for children who are already struggling with crises such as food shortages, houses destroyed by floods and water scarcity or nuisance.”

UNICEF is trying in different ways to fight cholera. For example, water purification tablets are distributed in affected areas, as well as antidehydration agents and antibiotics. In northwestern Syria, the aid organization has started a vaccination campaign after the violent earthquakes there.