Mozambique: Post-cyclone cholera vaccinations start in Cabo Delgado province

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Mozambique: Post-cyclone cholera vaccinations start in Cabo Delgado province

9:41 CAT | 17 May 2019

Photo: Notícias

The authorities in Mozambique on Thursday launch a vaccination campaign against cholera in the province of Cabo Delgado, where an outbreak of the disease was recorded after Cyclone Kenneth swept through last month.

The campaign is to immunise some 500,000 people, including infants over 12 months, in the districts of Pemba, Mecúfi and Metuge, with the action being undertaken by 110 teams.

Cholera is a treatable disease, which spreads through contaminated water and food in areas without sanitation, and is frequent in the region during the rainy season, which runs from November to April.

In the aftermath of Cyclone Kenneth, which struck Cabo Delgado on April 25, a total of 163 patients with cholera were admitted to health units, of whom 23 continue to be treated, according to a bulletin from the Ministry of Health released earlier this week. There were no recorded deaths from the disease.

Mozambique had earlier been hit by Cyclone Idai, in March, which affected the centre of the country, claiming 603 lives and affecting about 1.5 million people. Cyclone Kenneth, which hit the north in April, killed 45 and affected 286,000.

This is the first kid to receive the cholera vaccine today in Pemba, #Mozambique. A vaccination campaign started today and wil also cover Metuge and Mecúfi to prevent the spread of the outbreak declared following #CycloneKenneth.

Over 516,000 doses are available. pic.twitter.com/AtNZEiXtgV

— OCHA Southern & Eastern Africa (@UNOCHA_ROSEA) May 16, 2019