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The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund are launching an emergency appeal for $1.6 million to try to contain a cholera1 epidemic2 in Guinea-Bissau, which has affected3 more than 12,000 people and killed more than 200. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.
Guinea Bissau was hit by cholera in May. Six months later, the epidemic shows no signs of abating4. And, UN aid agencies are worried. So far the disease has claimed at least 200 lives. But the World Health Organization says it expects the death toll5 to rise.
WHO Spokeswoman, Fadela Chaib, tells VOA every day there are an average of 140 new cases of cholera. She says concerns are rising because the epidemic is far from being contained.
"The problem is we fear that if this cholera epidemic is not put under control, more people will be affected and we will see more deaths," said Chaib. "Usually cholera is not a deadly disease. We can really recover from it. So, it is unfortunate that people will die from it while we know how to prevent it and how to treat the cases."
West Africa is regularly affected by cholera outbreaks. Guinea Bissau's last major epidemic was in 2005. Judging from that experience, Chaib says the current epidemic might last for at least another three months with a peak by November.
She says cholera has spread to all of the country's 11 provinces, putting practically everyone at risk.
"It touches everybody because of the very weak water and sanitation6 infrastructure7 in the country," said Chaib. "For example, in the capital Bissau, only 25 percent of the population has access to take public water while the rest rely on heavily contaminated traditional wells and surface water. So, the infrastructure is bad and for the time being the outbreak is not controlled, despite efforts from the country and the UN agencies and the NGO's."
The joint8 WHO-UNICEF appeal will be used to support the national cholera response. Chaib says the agencies are planning to take appropriate public health actions to try and stop the epidemic, including intensive information and health education campaigns.
She says it is important that people understand that good hygiene9 is essential in preventing the spread of cholera. She says a simple action such as washing hands can save lives.
Guinea Bissau was hit by cholera in May. Six months later, the epidemic shows no signs of abating4. And, UN aid agencies are worried. So far the disease has claimed at least 200 lives. But the World Health Organization says it expects the death toll5 to rise.
WHO Spokeswoman, Fadela Chaib, tells VOA every day there are an average of 140 new cases of cholera. She says concerns are rising because the epidemic is far from being contained.
"The problem is we fear that if this cholera epidemic is not put under control, more people will be affected and we will see more deaths," said Chaib. "Usually cholera is not a deadly disease. We can really recover from it. So, it is unfortunate that people will die from it while we know how to prevent it and how to treat the cases."
West Africa is regularly affected by cholera outbreaks. Guinea Bissau's last major epidemic was in 2005. Judging from that experience, Chaib says the current epidemic might last for at least another three months with a peak by November.
She says cholera has spread to all of the country's 11 provinces, putting practically everyone at risk.
"It touches everybody because of the very weak water and sanitation6 infrastructure7 in the country," said Chaib. "For example, in the capital Bissau, only 25 percent of the population has access to take public water while the rest rely on heavily contaminated traditional wells and surface water. So, the infrastructure is bad and for the time being the outbreak is not controlled, despite efforts from the country and the UN agencies and the NGO's."
The joint8 WHO-UNICEF appeal will be used to support the national cholera response. Chaib says the agencies are planning to take appropriate public health actions to try and stop the epidemic, including intensive information and health education campaigns.
She says it is important that people understand that good hygiene9 is essential in preventing the spread of cholera. She says a simple action such as washing hands can save lives.
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1 cholera | |
n.霍乱 | |
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2 epidemic | |
n.流行病;盛行;adj.流行性的,流传极广的 | |
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3 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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4 abating | |
减少( abate的现在分词 ); 减去; 降价; 撤消(诉讼) | |
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5 toll | |
n.过路(桥)费;损失,伤亡人数;v.敲(钟) | |
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6 sanitation | |
n.公共卫生,环境卫生,卫生设备 | |
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7 infrastructure | |
n.下部构造,下部组织,基础结构,基础设施 | |
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8 joint | |
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合 | |
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9 hygiene | |
n.健康法,卫生学 (a.hygienic) | |
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