Outbreaks and Emergencies in the WHO African Region Bulletin Vol. 6 Issue 5, 31 August 2016
This issue focuses on yellow fever, cholera, the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and South Sudan and Rift Valley fever in Niger.
During the period under review, there have been urban Yellow Fever (YF) outbreaks in Angola that have spread to neighboring DR Congo with cases exported to China and Kenya. Another outbreak of Yellow Fever was reported in Uganda, however it was not epidemiologically linked to the Angola or DR Congo outbreaks. The Uganda YF outbreak was rapidly and effectively contained highlighting the importance of preparedness as stipulated in the new regional strategy for health emergencies adopted during the recent Regional Committee in Addis Ababa.
Cholera outbreaks have been the most protracted public health events (PHEs) in the period under review. Seventeen (17) countries have been affected with DR Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Kenya recording the highest numbers of cases. Cholera in DR Congo is endemic yet outbreaks regularly occur. Outbreaks have also been reported in countries bordering DRC namely CAR and Congo.
Other major outbreaks that were reported during the period under review were: Polio in Nigeria, encephalitis in Angola and Rift Valley fever in Niger.
Moreover, protracted and escalated humanitarian crises in the Burundi, north eastern Nigeria and South Sudan have resulted in the displacement of thousands of people and major health consequences.
Finally, floods and drought related to El Nino have affected millions of people in Eastern and Southern Africa, including: Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Lesotho, South Africa, and Zambia. Consequently, food insecurity and se-vere acute malnutrition has significantly increased in the affected countries.