Sierra Leone and Guinea in West Africa are dealing with a deadly cholera outbreak. At least 224 people have died in one of the worst cholera outbreaks Sierra Leone has ever seen and it is just getting worse. Neighboring Guinea has had about 100 deaths.
The outbreak has become so bad in Sierra Leone that President Ernest Bai Koroma declared a national public health emergency. Ten of the 13 districts in the country have reported cases of cholera. Most of the deaths have occurred in the capital Freetown. The infection has spread due to heavy rains, overcrowding, poor sanitation and polluted water in the country.
The outbreak is the worst in Sierra Leone's history. Official records show that more than 12,500 people have contracted the disease and 32,000 cases are expected. The last outbreak in 1994 had 10,000 reported cases.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched an emergency appeal for $1.14 million earlier this month.
"The disease has the potential to cause a serious humanitarian crisis," Amanda McClelland, IFRC Emergency Health Coordinator, said in a statement, as quoted by Reuters. "It is an urgent to step up our efforts as the situation is deteriorating quickly ... We need more funds to deliver the most effective response".
The British government announced a $3.16 million emergency plan to help contain the cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone.
Cholera is an infection in the small intestine caused by bacteria called Vibrio Cholerae. Those affected by the infection have symptoms such as watery diarrhea and vomiting. It is transferred through water and food that has been contaminated by the feces of a person with the infection.
The diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration and an electrolyte imbalance which can cause death in extreme cases, especially among children and the elderly. The condition affects between three and five million people in the world and causes between 100,000 to 130,000 deaths a year.
Niger and Mali have also been affected have also reported cases of cholera.
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