Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Kabul on verge of cholera epidemic: Health expert
Press Trust of India
Kabul, June 14, 2005
More than 2,000 cases of cholera have been detected in the Afghan capital in recent weeks, and at least eight people have died, a health expert warned today, saying the city is on the verge of an epidemic.
The Health Ministry yesterday confirmed up to 300 cases, but claimed they have been dealt with and there had been no fatalities. It said there was no risk of the disease spreading.
"An epidemic is about to break out here. Over two thousand cases have been reported so far," said Fred Hartman, technical director for a U.S. AID-backed health and development program who has been directly involved with efforts to contain the outbreak.
Hartman told The Associated Press that 8-9 people had died in the past two weeks, and warned the disease could spread quickly throughout the city's 4 million population.
"There are always deaths with cholera," he said.
Cholera is a major killer in developing countries, where it is spread mainly through contaminated food or water. The bacterium attacks the intestine and causes severe diarrhea and dehydration.
The warning was in stark contrast to Health Ministry official Ahmid Shah Shukomand's claim yesterday that the outbreak had been contained.
"We had about 200 to 300 cases, but they were discharged from hospitals after treatment," Shukomand said.
He said authorities had launched a campaign urging people to boil drinking water, wash vegetables before eating them and regularly wash hands.
© HT Media Ltd. 2004.