Cholera outbreak in southeast Afghanistan kills 14

Cholera outbreak in southeast Afghanistan kills 14

2011-06-18 23:59:30 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- A sudden outbreak of cholera in southeastern Afghanistan has killed at least fourteen people and infected dozens more, local media reported on Saturday.

The Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) agency reported that the epidemic in southern Zabul province broke out earlier this week, infecting at least 84 people. Fourteen of them have died as of Saturday, according to Deputy Governor Mohammad Jan Rasulyar.

Few details about the outbreak in the remote area were immediately available, but a spokesperson for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said it airlifted several locals in relation to the outbreak.

"ISAF did air transport five local nationals with dehydration symptoms," the spokesperson said. "It has not been confirmed if they are infected with cholera. The [Ministry of Health] has the lead in this matter."

Public Health Director Dr. Suliman Safi told PAN that a team of doctors is being sent to the area where the disease is spreading.

In late 2010, at least 16 people were killed and up to 700 others were infected with cholera after an outbreak in eastern Zimbabwe. And an ongoing outbreak of cholera in Haiti has so far killed at least 5,200 people and infected more than 300,000 others.

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