GUINEA-BISSAU: Cholera outbreak escalating

Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone. - The number of people infected by a cholera outbreak in Guinea Bissau doubled in July to more than 600 and infections have spread to areas of the country previously considered low risk, health experts warn. Of 611 people in Guinea Bissau who have contracted the disease this year, 344 of them were infected in July, according to the government's statistics. So far 14 people have died. The outbreak has reached Gabu and Bafata, two areas normally immune from infection, and six other regions. "We have seen a notable increase in cases in the last week, and it is now all over the country," said Silvia Luciani, UN children's fund (UNICEF) representative. The outbreak started in the... [read full story]