WHO supports Uganda Ebola response, faces challenges fighting Haiti cholera outbreak — Global Issues
He reported 39 deaths so far. Overall, there have been 64 confirmed cases, and 20 probable cases, while 14 people have recovered from the disease.
Authorities are actively monitoring more than 660 contacts.
“Our main focus right now is on assisting the Government of Uganda to quickly control and contain this outbreak, preventing it from spreading to neighboring counties and neighboring countries,” said Tedros, speaking in Geneva. .
Cholera epidemic in Haiti
WHO is also working with the health ministry and partners in Haiti to coordinate the response to the cholera outbreak in the capital Port-au-Prince, which broke out earlier this month.
Sixteen people have died, and there are 224 suspected cases as of last Saturday, according to authorities. A quarter of suspected cases are in children under the age of five.
Tedros told journalists: “The situation is evolving rapidly, and it is possible that earlier or additional cases have not been detected.
Teams are working in areas such as surveillance, case management, water and sanitation, immunization and community engagement.
Fuel crisis affects healthcare
This latest cholera outbreak is occurring amid growing insecurity and an economic crisis.
Last month, gangs blocked the entrance to the main fuel station in the capital, which has caused severe gas and fuel shortages that are also affecting healthcare services.
Tedros reports that surveillance is being carried out under extremely difficult circumstances.
“The affected areas are very unsafe and controlled by gangs, which makes it difficult to collect samples and delays confirmation of cases and deaths in the lab,” he said. .
“Additionally, fuel shortages are making it harder for healthcare workers to get to work, closing health facilities and disrupting access to health services for people living in some parts of the world. the most needy communities”.
Meanwhile, WHO continues to call for greater international support for Pakistan, amid devastating floods caused by monsoon rains.
Tedros recalls his recent warning that more people could die from disease than from disaster.
“There are now outbreaks of malaria in 32 districts, while the incidence of cholera, dengue, measles and diphtheria is also increasing in flood-affected districts. We anticipate the situation to continue to deteriorate,” he said.
During the global outbreak of Monkeypox, declared an international public health emergency by WHO, 70,000 cases of the disease were reported, with 26 deaths.
Cases continue to decline, but 21 countries in the past week, have reported an increase in cases, mainly in the Americas – accounting for almost 90% of all cases reported in the past 7 days.
“Once again, we warn that a declining outbreak could be the most dangerous one, as it can lead us to think the crisis is over and lose sight of it,” the WHO chief said. sense”. “That is not what WHO is doing. We are continuing to work with countries around the world to improve their testing capacity and track outbreak trends.”