 |
| |
Severe Floods in India and West Africa
01 October 2009 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More than 600,000 people in the region have seen damage to their homes and are facing serious health risks, according to new figures released by the U.N. At least 16 countries have been hit this year by floods and Sierra Leone with 103 deaths has the highest toll reported. More than 25 people have been killed in Ghana and at least five people are known to have died in Burkina Faso, which has seen the heaviest rains in 90 years. Mali has also reported 25 people killed. Other countries also severely affected include Benin, Guinea, Niger, Senegal, Cameroon, Liberia, Chad, Kenya and Gambia.
Exceptionally heavy monsoon rains and rising floodwaters forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes in north-eastern India, where the Indian government have mobilised the military to deliver medical supplies, clean water and food. In the eastern Indian state of Bihar, the floods have already displaced about three million people and killed at least 90. The crisis started on 18 August when the Kosi river burst its banks for the first time in 150 years. In neighbouring Bangladesh, major rivers rose to danger levels and fresh parts of the country were submerged.
In the north-eastern state of Assam, heavy rains caused water levels to rise this month, affecting more than a million people and disrupting road networks for the second consecutive day.
The cholera vaccine is recommended to travellers going to at risk areas who may not be able to source well cooked food or boiled water, a precaution that is even more important since these floods as cholera infection is caused by contaminated food or water, which can occur commonly after floods or disruption to sanitation.
Cholera causes a sudden onset of watery diarrhoea often accompanied by vomiting. One can pass as much as 22 litres of diarrhoea in 24 hours.
In addition to the Cholera vaccine (which also protects against E Coli infection); The Travel Clinic Ltd carries a stock of rehydration salts and water purification products for purchase.
|
|
|
|
|
| |