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Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

This material has been summarised from information on the WHO Internet site. A link to this site can be found under 'Other Australian and international communicable diseases sites' on the CDI homepage.

Cholera in Somalia

From 1 January to 21 April 2000, 2,232 cases of cholera and 230 deaths have been reported. Cases have been confirmed in Bay, Lower Juba, Lower Shabelle, Mogadishu and Mudug. In areas where international teams are present, the case-fatality rate is lower due to effective case manage- ment and the implementation of adequate control measures. It should be noted however, that cholera control in Somalia is complex and difficult as a result of problems of security, accessibility and the recent drought.

WHO continues to carry out cholera control coordination activities through the cholera task force, which collects and compiles data to be shared with partners, assists in processing stool samples, provides cholera supplies as required and gives training support. Agencies involved include: UNICEF, Action internationale contre la faim, the International Medical Corps, Medecins sans frontieres, the Coordinating Committee of the Organization for Voluntary Services and the Somali Red Crescent Society.

Yellow fever in Nigeria

The Federal Ministry of Health has confirmed 2 cases of yellow fever in Kano State.

In collaboration with WHO, UNICEF and Medecins sans Frontieres, the Ministry is planning to conduct a mass vaccination campaign in the affected areas of Kano State and Ekiti State.

Meningococcal disease, serogroup W135

This update concerns cases of meningococcal disease associated with international travel and reported previously, as well as confirmed cases of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135.

New and revised notifications of these cases from 28 February 2000 have been received from the following countries:

Country	Cases	Deaths
Finland	1
France	18	4
Germany	2
Iran (Islamic Republic of)	2
Italy	0
Kuwait	1
Morocco	3	1
Netherlands	6
Oman	18	2
Saudi Arabia	241	59
Singapore	4
Spain	0
United Kingdom	31	5
United States	3

WHO is actively monitoring the situation and requesting countries to send specimens to WHO.


This article was published in Communicable Diseases Intelligence Volume 24, No 5, May 2000.