Cholera outbreak causes 271 deaths in Sierra Leone: WHO
10:03, 19 September 2012
GENEVA. September 19. KAZINFORM A total of 18,508 cases have been reported in the ongoing cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone as of Sept. 16 since the beginning of this year, and of these 271 people died, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday, according to Xinhua.
The highest numbers of cases are reported from the western area of the west African country where the capital city of Freetown is located, according to the WHO.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone has been stepping up response to the outbreak. Emphasis is being placed on early detection of cases and timely provision of treatment at the district levels in order to reduce deaths, the WHO said.
WHO has deployed case management and laboratory experts through the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network to build capacity among health-care workers and laboratory technicians in case management and laboratory diagnosis.