The Africa Centres for Disease Control now says that cholera outbreaks reported in several African countries could be linked to climate change.
The health body says it has noticed a pattern of environmental changes that has led to a surge in cases.
Kenya is now the “latest African country dealing with a cholera outbreak.”
Kenya’s director general of health, Dr Patrick Amoth, says the “situation is likely to worsen especially in drought prone areas.” This is because ‘bacteria tends to multiply faster in warmer areas.’
Malawi, Nigeria and Sudan are all facing outbreaks of cholera.
Dr Ahmed Ogwell, the acting director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control, says the number of countries affected could go up, due to ‘ heavy flooding’ in several countries in West and Central Africa
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has “reduced the two-dose cholera vaccine to a1 single dose due to a supply shortage.” The single dose will offer limited protection.
BBC /Oyenike Oyeniyi
