The cholera outbreak I reported yesterday seems to be more than that. Via allAfrica.com, a report in the Concord Times: Sierra Leone: Yellow Fever, Cholera, Lassa Fever Outburst-66 Reported Dead. Excerpt:
Director of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Amara Jambai, has yesterday disclosed that the outbreak of yellow fever in the Pujehun District, Lassa fever in Kenema district, cholera in Port Loko, Kambia, Pujehun and Kailahun districts and the Western Area has claimed 62 lives so far.
Speaking to journalists at the weekly press briefing at the Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr. Jambai said the outbreak, which started in three districts but has extended to other parts of the country, should be a serious concern to the government and people of Sierra Leone.
"Only recently, 367 cases were reported on a daily basis out of the thirteen districts. In the first instance, Lassa fever is a viral disease which is carried by rats. It is spread from infected rodents to humans through direct contact with urine and droppings of an infected rat. Yellow fever on the other hand is potentially a fatal viral infection that is transmitted by mosquitoes. Our investigation team is trekking to Bevehun in the Pujehun District to look into the outburst," Dr. Jambai explained adding that 26 cholera deaths have been reported in Kambia, 22 in Port Loko, nine in Pujehun and another nine in the Western Area which sum up to 62 cholera cases reported since January to date.
