Wednesday March 20, 2024
Garowe (HOL) - An outbreak of cholera has killed at least 19 people, including many children, and over 300 others have been hospitalized due to a cholera outbreak in the semi-autonomous Puntland region since February 2024, health officials said.
The disease originated in an IDP camp in Garowe, the administrative capital of the regional state, and has been spreading rapidly since then. Efforts are underway to contain its spread, with health workers striving to provide medical assistance to those infected and implementing hygiene measures.
Dr. Mohamed Jama Hirsi, the health coordinator of the Nugal region, told local media on Tuesday that quarantine centers have been established for those who have contracted the disease.
"Our priority at the moment is to ensure immediate treatment for the affected individuals and to implement preventive measures to halt the spread of cholera in Garowe," said Dr. Mohamed Jama Hirsi.
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the cholera outbreak in Somalia has claimed the lives of 54 people since January. A total of 4,388 cumulative cholera cases have been reported, with cases recorded in all six states and 30 districts across the country.