. | . |
UN gives aid to Guinea Bissau to fight cholera epidemic Bissau (AFP) Aug 16, 2008 The United Nations gave 400,000 euros (600,000 dollars) in aid to the tiny west African nation of Guinea Bissau to fight a cholera epidemic that has claimed 40 lives to date, the UN said Saturday. "The funds complement contributions by all the local United Nations agencies," in response to an urgent June appeal by the government, the UN said in a statement. The money will partly be used to help train health agents and for a public awareness campaign via the media. Some 1,900 cases of cholera have been registered over the last two months, a medical official said, with the capital city hardest hit by the epidemic. Cholera is a waterborne disease which causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting and can be fatal if not treated within 24 hours. Strong rains have "facilitated the rapid spread of the disease," said Agostinho Pedro Semedo, director of Bissau's central hospital. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Epidemics on Earth - Bird Flu, HIV/AIDS, Ebola
Uganda hepatitis epidemic toll rises to 110 Kampala (AFP) Aug 14, 2008 A hepatitis E epidemic in northern Uganda has killed 110 people since last October and continues to spread across the region, the health ministry said Thursday. |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |