Brazzaville – The devastation wrought in southern Africa by Cyclone Freddy is raising “major health risks”, including the spread of cholera, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday.
The UN agency said that torrential downpours and flooding had destroyed more than 300 health facilities in Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique.
Cyclone Freddy dissipated last week after leaving a trail of destruction across the region and causing hundreds of deaths.
Infrastructure damage had increased the risk of the spread of diseases such as cholera, malaria and Covid-19, the WHO said.
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Cholera cases have doubled in Mozambique over the past week, according to the WHO, reaching 2 374 as of March 20 compared to 1 023 recorded the week before.
While Malawi, which is battling its worst-ever cholera outbreak, continued to see a drop in cases, the storm damage risked slowing progress in the fight against the disease, the WHO said.
“The impact of Cyclone Freddy is immense and deep felt,” WHO’s Africa director Matshidiso Moeti was quoted as saying.
“Our priority is to ensure that affected communities and families receive health assistance for immediate needs as well as to limit the risks of water-borne diseases and other infections spreading,” she said.
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Source: AFP
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