ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on the Ethiopian government and its partners to maintain collaborative efforts to manage the ongoing prolonged cholera outbreak in the country. From August 2022 to Sept. 21, 2023, a total of 250 districts from 10 regions across the East African country were affected by the ongoing cholera outbreak. It remains crucial for the government and key partners to maintain collaborative efforts to manage this outbreak, the WHO noted, adding that in addition to the ongoing cholera outbreak, Ethiopia is currently grappling with a concurrent outbreak of multiple diseases, such as dengue fever, measles, and malaria, which have strained the healthcare system alongside cholera. It noted the urgent need for durable solutions to address the root causes of recurrent cholera outbreaks, which include poor-quality drinking water and open defecation. It said fecal contamination of drinking water is the main source of cholera, with most cholera patients using unsafe drinking water.

Source: Ethiopian News October 16, 2023 17:27 UTC