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News     Presentation     Key Figures     Quality     Jobs     Contacts     International		| News       Cholera outbreak reported in Zimbabwe      Health Alerts: Status: High risk. According to state media, 11 people have died in a new outbreak of cholera in northern Zimbabwe. The Daily Herald newspaper quoted the local civil protection unit in the run-down former agricultural town of Chinhoyi as saying that the deaths had occurred in the last three weeks, while 500 had been treated for the disease. The chairman of the Zimbabwe Child Protection Society stated "The widespread outbreaks of diarrheal diseases, including cholera, across Zimbabwe, resulting from the catastrophic breakdown of urban water supply and sanitation services will dramatically worsen with the rainy season which begins in less than a month,". A spokesman for the state-controlled Zimbabwe National Water Authority office in Chinhoyi said that the organization was severely short of equipment, including rods for clearing blocked sewers. The UN noted that "a cholera outbreak has been a cause of concern in Zimbabwe since February 2008, 120 deaths have been recorded cumulatively, with the highest percentage found in northern province of Mashonaland Central." The collapse of health and municipal services is seen as the cause for the spread of the disease, with local authorities failing to provide the basic necessities for the people of the country. No travel restrictions are applied in Mashonaland Central, Zimbabwe; however, travelers are advised to be cautious while traveling to the affected areas.  read more Monday 20 October 2008   Floods reported in Vietnam      Natural Catastrophe: According to Emergency services officials, floods in central Vietnam have killed at least 22 people after a storm lashed the region last week, also leaving 10 fishermen missing in the South China Sea. Officials said that soldiers were deployed in flood areas to search for victims while rescue workers were trying to reach people stranded after 18,000 buildings were damaged or submerged across five central provinces. An official of the National Flood and Storm Control Committee in the capital Hanoi stated that the deaths were reported in the provinces of Nghe An, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Tri, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai. The Director of Nghe An's flood control department stated 'Authorities and local residents have been asked to take preventative measures against further floods and landslides'. He said rains had abated but water levels in some rivers were still rising. Because of its exposure to the South China Sea and its two low-lying and densely populated river deltas Vietnam is at risk of constant floods. The World Bank has warned that Vietnam is among the countries most at risk from climate change and rising sea levels.  read more Sunday 19 October 2008   Dengue outbreak reported in Vanuatu      Health Alerts: Status: High risk. Vanuatu health authorities have declared a dengue fever outbreak. A nation-wide campaign to control the spread of the disease has been declared by the authorities. The Non-Communicable Disease Manager reported that of the 28 confirmed cases so far, more than 16 were recorded in the last week alone. No travel restrictions are applied in Vanuatu; however, travelers are advised to be cautious while traveling to the affected areas.  read more Thursday 23 October 2008   Cholera reported in Uganda      Health Alerts: Status: Low risk. According to the Kampala City Council Health Department, a cholera epidemic has struck Kampala city suburbs again killing 4 people and infecting 6 other people. The Health Department revealed that the epidemic had spread to areas of Bwaise, Kanyanya in Kawempe Division, Kisenyi in Central Division, and some parts of Makindye Division. The City Health Secretary reported that the epidemic first broke out late last month in Kinawataka region. The minister also added that a special cholera isolation unit had been reopened at Mulago Hospital to handle the victims. He further stated "The problem started from Nakawa Division specifically at Kinawataka where people drink contaminated water." The District Health Officer in charge of Disease Surveillance and Response urged the public to improve personal hygiene and report cholera cases immediately. He attributed the outbreak to poor water supply and poor sanitation in most slum areas especially those located in swamps. No travel restrictions are applied in Kampala, Uganda; however, travelers are advised to be cautious while traveling to the affected areas.  read more Thursday 23 October 2008   Dengue fever in Pacific islands      Health Alerts: Status: High risk. Dengue fever infections are reportedly spreading through the Pacific Islands. Fiji reported 2000 cases of infections and American Samoa reported a year's record of cases to have occurred only in the month September 2008. Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia, Kiribati, and Palau are also reporting unusually high levels of the virus infection. The outbreak has swept across Fiji in recent weeks. The central and western region of Fiji, reported 1300 cases. Health authorities in American Samoa reported that the virus had killed 1 person and affected almost 200 people, so far since January 2008. Majority of the cases were reported to have occurred in the past 6 weeks. No travel restrictions are applied in the Pacific Islands; however, travelers are advised to be cautious while traveling to the affected areas.  read more Sunday 19 October 2008      1 2 3 4 5 ... Next