Cholera Recurrence in Zambia; IRIN Examines Cholera Prevention
Most water utility companies in Zambia have focused on water supply and neglected to pay attention to sanitation issues, which has brought on a recurrence of water-borne diseases such as cholera, a government deputy minister said recently, Times of Zamiba/allAfrica.com reports (Times of Zambia/allAfrica.com, 5/14).
In related cholera news, IRIN examined a debate about whether cholera prevention should focus on vaccine development or safe water access. The article includes information about educational effort outcomes, recent cholera outbreaks and vaccine costs (IRIN, 5/14).
Editorial Addresses Cholera in Kenya
In Kenya, Ongata Rongai, "one of the fast-growing commercial and residential centers in Nairobi's suburbs" recorded a new case of cholera on Wednesday, which is one of the first in the area, according to a Daily Nation editorial. Ongata Rongai has been developing without basic sanitation facilities as "residents have to make do with untreated borehole water and use septic tanks for waste disposal," according to the editorial.
As rain pours on the city, the "scene is set for a cholera outbreak" and other diseases, the Daily Nation writes, adding that other overcrowded suburbs could experience similar problems. It is a "damning indictment of the authorities that this disease [cholera] should continue wreaking havoc in urban areas, just because of poor planning and infrastructure development" (Daily Nation, 5/14).
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