Increase in Ethiopian Malaria Cases, Deaths Might Lead to Major Epidemic, U.N. Says
A dramatic increase in malaria cases and related deaths in Ethiopia might result in a major epidemic during this year's June to October malaria season, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Reuters Health reports (Reuters Health, 8/8). In one region of the country, 20,000 cases and 21 deaths were reported in June of this year, which is almost 10 times the number of cases from June 2004. OCHA added that Ethiopia's supply of the artemisinin-based combination therapy Coartem and insecticide-treated nets will fall short if there is a major epidemic (U.N. News/AllAfrica.com, 8/8). The most affected areas include Tigray, Amhara, Oromiya, Afar, Somali, Benshangul-Gumuz and the Southern Nations Nationalities and People's regions (AFP/Yahoo! News, 8/8). The World Health Organization is assessing the conditions in affected regions and is working with UNICEF to provide logistical support to the government (Reuters Health, 8/8).
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