New Cholera Outbreak in Maputo

2 May 2011

Maputo — One person died and four others were admitted to hospital between 17 and 23 April following an outbreak of cholera in the Costa do Sol neighbourhood, in the outlying suburb of Maputo, Mozambican capital, reports Monday’s issue of the daily “Noticias”.

This is the first time a cholera outbreak reported in Maputo since 2007.

According to the Maputo Director of Health, Maria Benigna Matsinhe, the first case was identified on 21 April within a family of seven people who were suffering from diarrhoea. The second case was identified two days later in the same residential area, affecting 20 patients.

Matsinhe said the rising number of cases of diarrhoeas led health authorities to conduct tests that would later confirm that five of the patients were confirmed cases of cholera.

She explained that the cholera epidemic was caused by poor hygiene and maintenance of latrines, a chronic situation in the Costa do Sol neighbourhood.

The patients were admitted to Mavalane and Jose Macamo hospitals, where they were assisted and later discharged.

Matsinhe reassured that when the first cases of diarrhoeas were reported, health authorities launched an awareness campaign targeted at the families living in the area, which is based on house-to-house approach on the need to follow basic hygiene rules.

“The idea is to convey messages for improving hygiene and sanitation among the residents which are better understood by the local residents rather than having meetings with large number of people”, explained Matsinhe.

So far, according to Matsinhe, there are no indications that situation could deteriorate, thanks to the timely intervention of the health sector in preventative actions, “but the alert is of concern because vibrio cholerae is still circulating in the area.”

To prevent spread of the epidemic, there is under way a campaign for indoor spraying, particularly in the neighbourhood of Costa do Sol, to eliminate the bacteria that cause the disease.

As for prevention, Matsinhe explained that health authorities are well prepared to deal with a cholera epidemic of large proportions should the situation deteriorate. To that end, the authorities have established a Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) with tents to accommodate over 2,000 patients.

Apparently, the epidemic is still confined to Costa do Sol, but there are other neighbourhoods prone to a cholera outbreak such as Mafalala, Chamanculo, Maxaquene A and B, Polana Canico-A and B, all in the outskirts of Maputo, where health authorities have already deployed brigades to launch an awareness campaign against the disease.

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