APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The World Health Organisation (WHO) said multiple disease outbreaks have hit the Horn of Africa amid food insecurity challenges.
“Countries in the region are facing a serious food insecurity crisis due to failed rainy seasons as well as flooding in other areas,” said WHO in its Horn of Africa food insecurity and health situation update issued late on Wedensday.
“Multiple disease outbreaks are ongoing in the Horn of Africa region,” the WHO said.
In Djibouti, the disease outbreaks include measles, malaria, dengue, and acute watery diarrhea (AWD).
It said as of November 2022, some 546 suspected cases of measles were reported in the country.
Various vaccination campaigns had significantly interrupted the transmission of the disease, resulting in a decreased infection rate by the end of 2022.
In Ethiopia, the WHO said the risk of further disease outbreaks remains high, which is in the grip of cholera and measles outbreaks in drought-affected areas.
As of December 14th, some 669 cholera cases were reported, with 24 associated deaths.
In Kenya, measles outbreaks have been reported in six counties, the WHO said, adding 392 cases were reported from June 26 to December 31st.
The WHO said increased incidents of waterborne diseases, especially cholera and pathogens causing AWD, have been observed among the drought-affected populations in Somalia.
South Sudan has reported sustained cases of measles and hepatitis E.
The increase in measles cases continues across most of the states in South Sudan and confirmed cases have been reported from 15 counties since the beginning of 2022, it said.
The WHO said it continues to provide support by coordinating the efforts of health sector partners, in addition to scaling up its assistance to the seven countries in the region to enable them to detect and respond to disease outbreaks.
MG/as/APA