Article from SOS Children :
" Angola has called a state of emergency after a 14 month-old boy was diagnosed with Polio.
The boy, who has not been vaccinated, was tested for the virus after his leg became paralysed.
He lives with his parents in a cut off village near the south central African country’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, where nine polio cases have been reported this year.
The United Nation's children’s agency (Unicef) is warning that it might be the start of an epidemic.
"The province has declared an emergency because last year there were 33 cases of polio in Angola and this year so far there were only four,” said Unicef’s Dr Koen Vanormelingen.
Polio is highly infectious and especially affects young children, and they become paralysed. It is spread through contaminated food and water. Once the virus gets into the digestive system, it multiplies and can spread into the nervous system.
Last year, Angola ran a mass vaccination programme to immunise all its children under five years-old. Children need three to four polio vaccines to be protected against the crippling disease."
Showing posts with label Angola. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Angola. Show all posts
Monday, November 7, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Angola : Health Sector Holds H1N1 Flu Test Along Border
Via All Africa :
" The sanitary authorities of the southern Cunene province is holding since 18 October research tests of H1N1 flu in Santa-Clara district, a region bordering with Namibia, after recording over 1,792 suspicious cases of the virus in that neighbouring country.
The test is being held together with the National Epidemiological Surveillance and Emergencies of the Ministry of Health.
This was said to Angop on Sunday by the head of the public health in Cunene province, Ana Dionísio."
" The sanitary authorities of the southern Cunene province is holding since 18 October research tests of H1N1 flu in Santa-Clara district, a region bordering with Namibia, after recording over 1,792 suspicious cases of the virus in that neighbouring country.
The test is being held together with the National Epidemiological Surveillance and Emergencies of the Ministry of Health.
This was said to Angop on Sunday by the head of the public health in Cunene province, Ana Dionísio."
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Outbreak of illness in schools in Angola
From WHO, an outbreak of unknown illness in Angola is reported :
" 15 August 2011 : An outbreak of an unknown illness has been reported among children and students in schools in Angola. In most cases, the illness has occurred suddenly, followed by the resolution of symptoms within a few hours. No deaths have been reported.
The typical symptoms reported include: vomiting, headache, sore throat, eye irritation, coughing, breathing difficulties and fainting in some cases. The outbreaks have been reported in schools of the capital, Luanda, and in a number of other provinces. Although the cause of these o
Although the cause of these outbreaks still remains unknown, this may be related to exposure to irritant chemicals. WHO has sent a team to Angola to assist the Government in investigating these outbreaks and to suggest measures for preventing further occurrences.
The WHO team includes an epidemiologist, laboratory specialists and a pharmacologist/toxicologist who are providing technical support to the national intersectoral committee created for this purpose.
This is complex work and WHO is consulting with experts and specialized institutions from other countries to explore ideas on appropriate lines of investigation."
" 15 August 2011 : An outbreak of an unknown illness has been reported among children and students in schools in Angola. In most cases, the illness has occurred suddenly, followed by the resolution of symptoms within a few hours. No deaths have been reported.
The typical symptoms reported include: vomiting, headache, sore throat, eye irritation, coughing, breathing difficulties and fainting in some cases. The outbreaks have been reported in schools of the capital, Luanda, and in a number of other provinces. Although the cause of these o
Although the cause of these outbreaks still remains unknown, this may be related to exposure to irritant chemicals. WHO has sent a team to Angola to assist the Government in investigating these outbreaks and to suggest measures for preventing further occurrences.
The WHO team includes an epidemiologist, laboratory specialists and a pharmacologist/toxicologist who are providing technical support to the national intersectoral committee created for this purpose.
This is complex work and WHO is consulting with experts and specialized institutions from other countries to explore ideas on appropriate lines of investigation."
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
26 children die from measles in Angola's Cabinda Province
Via Xinhua :
" LUANDA, May 9 : Twenty-six children died from measles out of 445 cases recorded in Angola's northern enclave province of Cabinda since the start of the outbreak in 2010, the official news agency Angop reported on Monday.
The situation prompted local health authorities in the province to launch a vaccination campaigns for children between six months to five years, and health officials called for parents and tutors to adhere to vaccination rules.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, which affects mostly children, and there is no specific treatment for measles and most people recover within two or three weeks, and measles can be prevented by immunization.
However, particularly in malnourished children and people with reduced immunity, measles can cause serious complications, including blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea, ear infection and pneumonia or even deaths."
" LUANDA, May 9 : Twenty-six children died from measles out of 445 cases recorded in Angola's northern enclave province of Cabinda since the start of the outbreak in 2010, the official news agency Angop reported on Monday.
The situation prompted local health authorities in the province to launch a vaccination campaigns for children between six months to five years, and health officials called for parents and tutors to adhere to vaccination rules.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, which affects mostly children, and there is no specific treatment for measles and most people recover within two or three weeks, and measles can be prevented by immunization.
However, particularly in malnourished children and people with reduced immunity, measles can cause serious complications, including blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea, ear infection and pneumonia or even deaths."
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Angola : Over 23.500 children vaccinated against polio in Longonjo
Via ANGOP Health :
" Longonjo : At least 23,687 children with less than five years of age were vaccinated against poliomyelitis in Longonjo district, 64 kilometres to the west of central Huambo province.
This was under the fourth national campaign against the disease held from Friday to Sunday in the region.
The Longonjo vaccination data indicate an increase of 687 the number of children predicted."
" Longonjo : At least 23,687 children with less than five years of age were vaccinated against poliomyelitis in Longonjo district, 64 kilometres to the west of central Huambo province.
This was under the fourth national campaign against the disease held from Friday to Sunday in the region.
The Longonjo vaccination data indicate an increase of 687 the number of children predicted."
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Angola : Over 200 cases of malaria recorded in Cangandala Hospital
Via Angola Press :
" Cangandala : At least 223 cases of malaria were diagnosed in August in the hospital of Cangandala District, in the northern Malanje Province, ANGOP has learnt.
According to a monthly report from the hospital, which reached ANGOP on Tuesday, these cases did not claim any lives.
The document reads that in the referred period 1.389 patients with various diseases were assisted in that hospital.
The hospital of Cangandala District operates with 35 technicians, among them five Cuban physicians, 30 nurses, among other staff."
" Cangandala : At least 223 cases of malaria were diagnosed in August in the hospital of Cangandala District, in the northern Malanje Province, ANGOP has learnt.
According to a monthly report from the hospital, which reached ANGOP on Tuesday, these cases did not claim any lives.
The document reads that in the referred period 1.389 patients with various diseases were assisted in that hospital.
The hospital of Cangandala District operates with 35 technicians, among them five Cuban physicians, 30 nurses, among other staff."
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
WHO : Polio in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
From WHO, polio outbreaks detected in Angola and Congo, excerpt but please read the whole report :
" 8 September 2010 : Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) are experiencing outbreaks of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1).
In Angola, the outbreak which began in April 2007, has this year spread to re-infect previously polio-free areas in Angola (the provinces of Bie, Bengo, Huambo, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul and Uige), as well as to neighbouring DR Congo, re-infecting Kasai Occidental province which borders Angola. This outbreak is classified as 're-established' transmission, as it has persisted for a period greater than 12 months.
In DR Congo, in addition to newly-imported virus from Angola this year, a case detected in Katanga province with onset of paralysis on 20 June 2010, in the east of the country, has been genetically-linked to virus previously imported from Angola, last detected in eastern DR Congo in 2008. In 2009, a case was detected in Burundi, which was linked to the same transmission chain. DR Congo was previously regarded by the Advisory Committee on Poliomyelitis Eradication (ACPE) has having 'suspected' re-established transmission, and this suspicion is now confirmed.
Given the recent progress achieved in Nigeria (99% reduction in cases this year compared to the same period in 2009), west Africa (no cases since 1 May 2010) and the Horn of Africa (no cases in more than 12 months), central Africa is now considered to be the greatest risk to Africa's polio eradication efforts. Angola's outbreak is currently the only geographically expanding outbreak in Africa. This situation increases the risk to achieving the next global milestone of the new Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Strategic Plan 2010-2012, the cessation of all re-established WPV transmission by end-2010."
" 8 September 2010 : Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) are experiencing outbreaks of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1).
In Angola, the outbreak which began in April 2007, has this year spread to re-infect previously polio-free areas in Angola (the provinces of Bie, Bengo, Huambo, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul and Uige), as well as to neighbouring DR Congo, re-infecting Kasai Occidental province which borders Angola. This outbreak is classified as 're-established' transmission, as it has persisted for a period greater than 12 months.
In DR Congo, in addition to newly-imported virus from Angola this year, a case detected in Katanga province with onset of paralysis on 20 June 2010, in the east of the country, has been genetically-linked to virus previously imported from Angola, last detected in eastern DR Congo in 2008. In 2009, a case was detected in Burundi, which was linked to the same transmission chain. DR Congo was previously regarded by the Advisory Committee on Poliomyelitis Eradication (ACPE) has having 'suspected' re-established transmission, and this suspicion is now confirmed.
Given the recent progress achieved in Nigeria (99% reduction in cases this year compared to the same period in 2009), west Africa (no cases since 1 May 2010) and the Horn of Africa (no cases in more than 12 months), central Africa is now considered to be the greatest risk to Africa's polio eradication efforts. Angola's outbreak is currently the only geographically expanding outbreak in Africa. This situation increases the risk to achieving the next global milestone of the new Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Strategic Plan 2010-2012, the cessation of all re-established WPV transmission by end-2010."
Monday, August 16, 2010
Angola : Over 8,000 cases of malaria reported in Ombadja
From Angola Press, the whole report :
" Ondjiva : At least 8,177 new cases of malaria were diagnosed in the past six months of the year in Ombadja Municipal Hospital, southern Cunene Province, ANGOP learnt Sunday from a local source.
According to the head of the statistics department of the health unit, Gerson Ladislau Fernando, out of the mentioned number, seventeen cases resulted in death and most of the victims were children.
Gerson Fernando stated that in order to minimise cases of malarias, a range of awareness campaigns have been carried out in rural areas, with emphasis on basic sanitation and use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
At least 15 cases of measles, 42 of pulmonary tuberculosis (one death) and 73 HIV/AIDS six deaths), were also recorded by the hospital."
" Ondjiva : At least 8,177 new cases of malaria were diagnosed in the past six months of the year in Ombadja Municipal Hospital, southern Cunene Province, ANGOP learnt Sunday from a local source.
According to the head of the statistics department of the health unit, Gerson Ladislau Fernando, out of the mentioned number, seventeen cases resulted in death and most of the victims were children.
Gerson Fernando stated that in order to minimise cases of malarias, a range of awareness campaigns have been carried out in rural areas, with emphasis on basic sanitation and use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
At least 15 cases of measles, 42 of pulmonary tuberculosis (one death) and 73 HIV/AIDS six deaths), were also recorded by the hospital."
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Polio in Angola – high risk of international spread
Another alert from WHO which we need to pay attention to, please read the whole article, excerpt :
" Situation
As of 19 July the Ministry of Health of Angola has reported 15 cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) since the beginning of 2010, signalling an expansion of an ongoing outbreak. All of these cases have been detected since February in the capital Luanda or in provinces which were previously polio-free (Bie, Bengo, Huambo, Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul). One genetically-related case was detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (in Kasai Occidentale province, which borders Angola), with onset of paralysis on 25 May.
The country has had a persistent outbreak of poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) since 2007, where 8 cases were reported that year, and 29 cases each in 2008 and 2009.
Given the persistent and widespread transmission of wild poliovirus, ongoing sub-national surveillance gaps and recent further spread of WPV1 internationally, WHO considers as high the risk of further international spread into neighbouring countries. As per recommendations outlined in WHO's International Travel and Health recommendations, travellers to and from Angola should be fully protected by vaccination."
" Situation
As of 19 July the Ministry of Health of Angola has reported 15 cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) since the beginning of 2010, signalling an expansion of an ongoing outbreak. All of these cases have been detected since February in the capital Luanda or in provinces which were previously polio-free (Bie, Bengo, Huambo, Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul). One genetically-related case was detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (in Kasai Occidentale province, which borders Angola), with onset of paralysis on 25 May.
The country has had a persistent outbreak of poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) since 2007, where 8 cases were reported that year, and 29 cases each in 2008 and 2009.
Given the persistent and widespread transmission of wild poliovirus, ongoing sub-national surveillance gaps and recent further spread of WPV1 internationally, WHO considers as high the risk of further international spread into neighbouring countries. As per recommendations outlined in WHO's International Travel and Health recommendations, travellers to and from Angola should be fully protected by vaccination."
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