Cholera situation in Somalia, January 2017

During January, a total of 3113 cases of acute watery diarrhoea/cholera and 47 deaths were reported across Somalia. This is a significant increase from figures for December 2016 – 1208 cases and 33 deaths.
Cholera cases are on the rise due to the ongoing drought in Somalia that has dried up much of the available water sources.
Acute watery diarrhoea/cholera cases in January were reported from 37 districts in the south-central region, including Bay (1443 cases, 23 deaths), Banadir (574 cases, 18 deaths), Lower Shebelle (452 cases, 1 death), Middle Shebelle (317 cases, 3 deaths) and Hiran (265 cases, 2 deaths). Cases were also reported in north-eastern region, including Mudug (76 cases, 0 deaths) and Bari (31 cases, 0 deaths), as well as in 4 districts in 2 Puntland regions.
Of 32 stool samples collected in January, 10 tested positive for V. Cholerae 0139, serotype Ogawa.
Oral cholera vaccines have been approved by the WHO Global Task Force on Cholera Control for 7 hotspots in the south-central regions. The first round of vaccinations is scheduled from 18 to 22 March followed by a second round from 2 to 6 April.
In 2016, a cumulative total of 15 619 suspected cases of cholera, including 531 associated deaths, were reported, with a case–fatality rate of 3.39%.