Cholera and AWD outbreak bulletin in Eastern and Southern Africa, as of 31 August 2017, 3 Issue

Regional Update - as at 31 August 2017

Highlights

More than 100,780 cholera / AWD cases and 1496 deaths (CFR: 1.5%) have been reported in 12 of 21 countries of Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) since the beginning of 2017. These countries include; Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Burundi, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Uganda, Zambia and Rwanda. Somalia accounts for 76.6% of the total cases reported in the outbreak in 2017, followed by South Sudan at 15.7%. In the past 2/3 weeks (Week 32-34), 6 out of the 21 countries in ESAR have reported active transmission of cholera / AWD (Burundi, Malawi, Somalia, South Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania). Tanzania has recorded the highest CFR (1.8%) followed by South Sudan (1.7%) in 2017. CFR for Somalia was above 2% at the beginning of 2017 but has since dropped to 1.4%.

Somalia: There has been a decrease in the epidemic trend. During week 33 (week ending 20 August 2017), 222 new cases and no deaths were reported in the country; compared to 282 cases reported in week 32. Out of the 222 new cases, 97 were reported from South Central and 125 were from Somali land. Most affected regions are Banadir, Togdheer, Awdal, Mjeex and Lower Jubba.

Kenya: 4 out of the 47 Counties (Garissa, Nairobi, Turkana and Nakuru) have an active cholera outbreak. During week 33, 19 new cases were reported compared to 69 cases in week 32.

South Sudan: Most affected populations are nomadic pastoralists and communities living in hard to reach villages and cattle camps. There has been a decrease in the epidemic trend over the past 3 weeks. During week 32 (Week ending 13th August 2017), 30 new cases were reported; compared to 102 cases including 1 death (CFR 1%) in week 31. Active transmission reported in Kapoeta East, South and North, Tonj East, Yirol East, Nyirol, Ayod, Duk and Juba.

Tanzania: An increase in epidemic trend. During week 34 (Week ending 27th August 2017), 102 new cases have been reported in Tanzanian mainland; compared to 67 cases in week 33. Cases emerged from Mbeya, Iringa and Katavi regions.

Malawi: The current outbreak started within the catchment area of the Chikwawa Hospital. 11 New cases have been reported in week 34; compared to 2 cases reported in week 33.

Burundi: The first case of the current outbreak was identified on August 13, 2017 from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since then there has been an increase in the epidemic trend with 24 cases reported in week 34; as compared to 13 cases reported in week 33. No death has been reported and most of the cases emerged from the city center of Nyanza Lac.

Uganda: No confirmed case of cholera in 2017, only AWD cases reported