[RADIOSHABELLE] The World Health Organization (WHO) is stepping up measures to contain cholera outbreak in Somalia amid decline in the number of cases and deaths in the past month.The UN health agency, which cited figures from the Health Ministry of Somalia, said 32 new suspected cases of cholera, including one death were reported between Oct. 15-21.
"Since week 28 (seven weeks), there has been a significant downward trend in the number of new suspected cholera cases reported from different treatment facilities," WHO said in its latest report released on Friday.
"The cumulative total of cases is 6,498, including 43 associated deaths (case-fatality rate 0.6 percent), since the beginning of the current outbreak in December 2017 along the Shabelle River," it added.
Cholera is a gastrointestinal disease, usually spread by contaminated water and food, and can cause severe diarrhea that, in extreme cases, lead to fatal dehydration and kidney failure within hours.