The World Health Organisation has said urgent action is needed to counter what it says is a cholera epidemic in East Africa.

The group says the disease - fuelled by heavy rains, bad sanitation and a poor medical response - has killed thousands in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

"We are in the middle of a serious situation," Dr Maria Neira, leader of the WHO Global Task Force on Cholera Control said, confirming an epidemic.

Cholera is common this time of year in Africa, when the rains mix with human waste which is washed into drinking water supply. This year has seen the heaviest rains in more than three decades which have led to a particularly serious outbreak of the disease.

The WHO reported 61,534 cases of cholera with 2,687 deaths in East Africa since January, most of which have occurred in recent months.

On the island of Zanzibar, the death rate has been unusually high. Out of 570 cases, 122 patients have perished.

Dr Maria Neira of the WHO said that even if the disease cannot be controlled, the number of deaths from it can be radically reduced.

While deaths amongst sufferers are as high as 23% in Zanzibar, mortality can be as low as 1%, if properly treated, she said.

Kenya summit agreement

Following a two-day meeting in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, officials from national health ministries, the United Nations and WHO representatives agreed on more efficient stocking and delivery of medical supplies and a swifter response to outbreaks.

The meeting also agreed to improve notification. The BBC's East Africa correspondent, Martin Dawes, reports that this was the most crucial move because local medical authorities in Kenya often seem reluctant to acknowledge the scale of the cholera problem and issue lower figures than aid groups.

The cholera bacteria enters the body via the mouth, usually in contaminated water or foods. It causes massive diarrhoea, up to 20 litres (4 gallons) in 24 hours. The diarrhoea is soon followed by vomiting, the patient quickly becomes dehydrated, and may go into shock and die.

The key to saving lives is prompt fluid and salt intake, orally or intravenously.
 

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