Latest news with #Vibriocholerae
Hans India
11-07-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Cholera outbreak in Congo reaches acute phase with rising cases
Kinshasa: The cholera outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reached an "acute phase," with infections still rising, Health Minister Roger Kamba said. Since January 2025, over 33,000 cases and a fatality rate of around 2 per cent have been recorded nationwide, Kamba said at a press conference. The 2025 case count has already surpassed 2024's total of 31,749, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Up to 17 of the country's 26 provinces have been affected so far, up from 14 reported just a day earlier, Kamba said, warning against the rapid spread of disease. The capital Kinshasa, home to more than 1.7 million people, is currently registering around 130 new cases weekly, with a significant number proving fatal, the minister said. In response, the government is opening new treatment centres in Kinshasa and offering free care to confirmed patients. The DRC is also facing a resurgence of mpox, Kamba added, calling the current health situation a "critical crisis." The DRC declared a cholera outbreak on May 5, following laboratory confirmation of cases in multiple provinces, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the WHO, Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is a global public health threat and indicates inequity and lack of social and economic development. Access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene is essential to prevent cholera and other waterborne diseases. Most people with cholera have mild or moderate diarrhoea and can be treated with oral rehydration solution (ORS). However, the disease can progress rapidly, so starting treatment quickly is vital to save lives. Patients with severe disease need intravenous fluids, ORS and antibiotics. Countries need strong epidemiological and laboratory surveillance to swiftly detect and monitor outbreaks and guide responses. Cholera outbreaks occur regularly in some countries. In others, they are less frequent, and it may be years between outbreaks. Cholera is linked to limited access to safe water, basic sanitation facilities and poor hygiene practices. This may be due to conflict, population displacement, climate events like cyclones, floods or drought, and lack of investment in maintaining and improving WASH services and infrastructure. The number of cholera cases reported to WHO has continued to rise in recent years. In 2023, 535 321 cases and 4007 deaths were reported to WHO from 45 countries. The discrepancy between these figures and the numbers estimated by researchers is likely due to limited surveillance systems and cases not being recorded out of fear of repercussions for trade and tourism.
The Star
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Ecowatch: Why oceans matter to our health
I'VE been fascinated by the ocean since I learned to scuba dive 20 years ago – a sport I love. But what I see now beneath the surface is a far cry from then: bleached corals and depleted marine life, and it leaves me with a deep sense of sadness. The ocean covers over 70% of Earth's surface, but it is more than just water. It's the cradle of life, a vital climate buffer, and a source of food and medicine. Today, it is besieged by everything from warming and acidification to industrial trawling, and deep-sea mining. These are not distant environmental concerns; they are immediate public health issues. Oceans absorb 25% of our carbon dioxide emissions and 90% of excess heat, shielding us from more extreme global warming. But this comes at a cost. Warming seas fuel coral bleaching, deplete oxygen, raise sea levels, and weaken marine ecosystems, reducing their ability to support life, including ours. Harmful algal blooms and bacteria like Vibrio cholerae (which causes cholera) are also on the rise, increasing risks to food safety and public health. As ocean health declines, so does planetary – and human – health. In May, I had the great honour of attending the premiere of Ocean, the latest film narrated by David Attenborough, one of my living heroes. Released on May 8 to mark his 99th birthday, it is breathtaking and heartbreaking, juxtaposing the beauty of coral reefs and kelp forests with scenes of trawling devastation and ecological collapse. Ocean is much more than a nature documentary. It is a call to action. It argues that laws are failing to protect marine life and urges reforms. It also offers hope: in protected 'no-take' areas from Hawaii to Scotland, marine ecosystems are showing signs of remarkable recovery, making the point that when we restore oceans, we restore climate stability, food security, and human well-being. One of the film's most harrowing segments focuses on bottom trawling, which Attenborough condemns as 'modern-day colonialism at sea'. This method uses massive, weighted nets which are dragged across the seafloor, completely bulldozing fragile ecosystems, destroying cold-water corals, seagrass beds, and kelp forests – all crucial carbon sinks and biodiversity havens. Carbon stored in marine sediment is disturbed and released into the atmosphere. Studies show this practice emits as much carbon annually as the global aviation industry. The human cost is severe. Destroying habitats depletes fish stocks, undermining food security for billions, especially in coastal and low-income communities. Meanwhile, disturbed sediment can release heavy metals and microplastics into the water, contaminating seafood and threatening public health. Ocean acidification lowers pH levels, making it harder for marine life like shellfish and corals to build skeletons. With up to 90% of coral reefs at risk of disappearing within two decades, this poses a major threat to biodiversity and the nearly one billion people who rely on reefs. At the same time, deep-sea mining is being pushed as vital for green technologies – but it raises a critical concern: are we trading one environmental crisis for another? The threats facing our oceans are deeply entwined with our own health. Climate-driven storms and rising seas displace communities and overwhelm health systems. Even our mental well-being suffers – as the ocean's beauty and cultural significance fade, so do its healing effects. And in the deep sea, disturbing ancient microbial systems may awaken threats we don't yet understand. The documentary's timely release ahead of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, last month helped drive momentum for the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, with hopes it will enter into force via the UN General Assembly in September. As half our oxygen comes from the oceans – much of which lies beyond national control – the agreement marks a crucial step for planetary health and a rare win for multilateralism amid global tensions. For Malaysians, this is not an abstract issue. We are a maritime nation. Coastal fisheries feed millions. Marine tourism sustains entire communities. Rising seas and dying reefs are not distant threats; they are already affecting us here and now. That's why my call for action this month is clear. We must step up and do our part by: > Expanding marine protected areas to cover at least 30% of our oceans by 2030, with strong enforcement. Currently Malaysia protects just 3% of its marine territory. > Banning destructive fishing, especially bottom trawling. Over 6,000 trawlers with bottom trawling gear are registered in Malaysia. > Supporting a moratorium on deep-sea mining, until and unless science proves it's safe. > Integrating ocean and climate policy – healthy oceans are vital for climate resilience. The Coral Triangle Initiative is a good start, but more ambition is needed. > Investing in ocean literacy, especially for youth. Ocean was screened for schoolchildren, and their response showed how knowledge can move hearts and inspire action. The ocean is not a distant frontier. It is our climate shield, food source, and health partner. If it falters, so do we. But as Ocean reminds us, healing is possible. Attenborough doesn't preach, he invites us to care. And care we must. Because when the ocean thrives, so do we. Let that be the legacy we build for today's children, and tomorrow's planet. Prof Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, a physician and experienced crisis leader, is the executive director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health at Sunway University. She is the founder of Mercy Malaysia and has served in leadership roles internationally with the United Nations and Red Cross for the last decade. She writes on Planetary Health Matters once a month in Ecowatch. The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
East Kol man season's 1st cholera hosp admission
Kolkata: A 26-year-old man from Picnic Garden, admitted to a hospital off EM Bypass, was diagnosed as suffering from cholera. While this diarrhoeal disease is common during the monsoon, sources said this is the first known case of cholera in the city this season. The hospital informed the relevant authorities, including the health department and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). Civic officials have taken water samples and sent them for testing, while a survey has been launched in the patient's locality to see if anyone else has symptoms of the waterborne disease. Afroz Khan's family said he was admitted to Apollo Multispecialty Hospital on Thursday night with vomiting, stomach pain, and dehydration. Investigative tests on Friday confirmed a cholera infection. "His condition is stable and improving. He is being treated in the general ward as he does not need intensive care. We expect him to be discharged in a couple of days," said a relative. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Sources said Khan, an accountant in a private firm, was working from home for a month. Although doctors suspect either contaminated water or food to be the cause of the infection, none of his three family members have any cholera symptom. According to Khan's family, they drink tap water supplied by KMC. Though cases of cholera have decreased significantly in the city, health experts said a few cases are not unusual, especially during the monsoon. "We haven't got any cholera case this year. But a few cases during monsoon are not uncommon," said microbiologist Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhuri of Peerless Hospital. A diarrhoeal disease caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae, cholera is associated with the monsoon, particularly in areas with inadequate sanitation and limited access to safe water. Heavy rain, flooding, and stagnant water create favourable conditions for the bacteria, leading to higher risk of an outbreak in and after monsoon. "We have collected water samples from the patient's building," said a KMC official, adding that a survey is being launched in Topsia-Tiljala, which is prone to waterborne diseases in monsoon, to check for others with cholera symptoms or any other waterborne infection. The water department is also thinking of increasing the chlorination dosage if required.
Shafaq News
19-06-2025
- Health
- Shafaq News
Drought sparks cholera alert in Kurdistan
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, health authorities in Al-Sulaymaniyah warned of a heightened risk of cholera this year, pointing to reduced rainfall and its effect on drinking water quality. At a press briefing, Dr. Sabah Hawrami, Director General of the province's Health Department, linked the increased threat to a decline in precipitation, urging residents to boil or disinfect water before consumption and regularly clean household storage tanks. The Directorate, he added, continues to ''monitor epidemiological patterns, encouraging adherence to public health guidance, particularly around water hygiene.'' Iraq last experienced a major cholera outbreak in 2022, when more than 1,200 cases were confirmed across several provinces, including Baghdad and Babil. While the spread was eventually contained, the episode highlighted the country's vulnerability to waterborne diseases during periods of drought and infrastructure strain. Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. It spreads primarily through water or food contaminated with fecal matter. Without treatment, the disease can lead to severe dehydration and death within hours, though the fatality rate remains below 1% when rehydration is administered promptly
New Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Contaminated water behind diarrhoea, cholera outbreaks in Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: The Central health team visiting Odisha has confirmed that contaminated water is the primary cause of recent diarrhoea and cholera outbreaks in the state. The team shared its findings during a review meeting with state officials here on Wednesday. With three more deaths including two in Jajpur and one in Balasore in last 24 hours, the outbreaks have claimed 24 lives and affected over 2,500 people across nine districts. The health authorities, however, put the official death toll at 11. Following a detailed assessment at the affected areas, the visiting 10-member health team and four-member food safety panel concluded that the cholera outbreak in Jajpur district stemmed mainly from consumption of contaminated water and food. Water samples collected from various areas tested positive for E. coli contamination, indicating widespread microbial pollution in the district. At least 10 water samples collected in the first phase were found to be E. Coli positive. Similarly, 16 out of 37 faecal samples tested positive for Vibrio cholerae. The district continues to see new cases, with 37 fresh admissions reported on the day. However, signs of improvement are emerging, as the infection rate has dropped and only 196 people are currently under treatment. The Central team held separate discussions with the officials of Health, PR&DW and H&UD departments and advised them to take immediate steps to ensure availability of safe drinking water in the affected districts. Chief secretary Manoj Ahuja reviewed the situation and asked officials to ensure purification of drinking water distribution points in several districts. Health secretary Aswathy S who reviewed the situation, said a doctor has been suspended for advising a senior citizen to purchase medicine from outside, despite its availability at hospital pharmacy free of cost. The Health department has formed special teams that will visit Cuttack, Jajpur, and Bhadrak districts on Thursday. The rapid action teams deployed in the affected districts have been instructed to take action as per the recommendations of the Central team.
