Dirty hands disease: MSF emergency team fights typhoid fever epidemic in Kikwit

Since August 20, more than 650 cases of typhoid fever have been reported in Kikwit, Bandundu Province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A team from Médecins Sans Frontières' Pool d'Urgence Congo (PUC) is providing support to Kikwit's main hospital to ensure treatment of patients free of charge. Community workers are raising awareness among the population about basic hygiene practices, in order to halt this serious epidemic of the so-called "dirty hands disease." Project Update - 11 Oct 2006

Liberia

MSF responds to cholera outbreak in Liberia

"Despite recent improvements providing stand-pipe water to some areas of the city, the vast majority of the population have extremely limited access to safe drinking water. This, coupled with the appalling sanitation situation in the city reinforces the concern that the number of cholera cases will again rise this year," said Tom Quinn, MSF Head of Mission. Project Update - 28 Aug 2006

Democratic Republic of Congo

No end in sight as pneumonic plague outbreak increases in Ituri

The main objective of MSF teams is to reduce mortality to a minimum Press Release - 22 Jun 2006

Papua New Guinea

Papua hit by simultaneous epidemics

MSF emergency teams fight disease outbreaks in two regions. Papua's health status is the lowest in Indonesia. Limited access to health facilities, lack of health education and poor sanitation leave large parts of the population vulnerable to outbreaks of disease. Project Update - 8 Jun 2006

Cholera

Murky Waters: Why the cholera epidemic in Angola was a disaster waiting to happen

Since February 2006, Luanda is going through its worst ever cholera epidemic, with an average of 500 new cases per day. The outbreak has also rapidly spread to the provinces and to date, 11 of the 18 provinces are reporting cases. Report - 17 May 2006

Angola

Access to safe and free water needs to be guaranteed

The disastrous state of the water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Luanda and other big cities is the principle reason for the rapid spread of the cholera outbreak in Angola. Press Release - 17 May 2006

Angola

As the number of infected people reaches 20,000, response to Angola cholera epidemic remains insufficient

"Many factors have conspired to make this cholera outbreak one of the worst ever seen in Angola. But with what we know today there can be no excuse for not doing everything humanly possible to prevent the death toll from climbing much higher," says Richard Veerman, MSF Head of Mission in Angola. Press Release - 27 Apr 2006

South Sudan

MSF responding to severe cholera outbreak in Juba

More than 1,800 cases have been recorded in two weeks in a non-endemic area.
Press Release - 22 Feb 2006

Zambia

Cases still rising in cholera outbreak in Lusaka

At the beginning of February, more than 600 new cases were reporting every week. It is estimated that the outbreak has not yet reached its peak. The rainy season - when outbreaks usually occur - started in November and it will last until April. Project Update - 10 Feb 2006

Zimbabwe

Cholera outbreak

The outbreak appears to be under control for now, but torrential rains have been pouring down on Zimbabwe recently and could eventually worsen the situation. Containing the disease is a priority; if it reaches larger rivers and spreads to the lowlands the outbreak could be catastrophic. Project Update - 11 Jan 2006

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

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We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff - most of them hired locally. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence and impartiality. We are a non-profit, self-governed, member-based organisation.

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