Cholera epidemic almost under control in Guinea-Bissau

The cholera outbreak in Guinea- Bissau is finally being brought under control and the epidemic could be declared over next month, according to reports reaching here from Bissau on Saturday.

The spokesperson with the Bissau Health Ministry, Lamine Indjai, said local citizens were finally following the authorities' recommendations on prevention of the water-borne disease and new cases have fallen "significantly" in recent weeks.

Since an epidemic was declared in June, cholera has claimed 364 lives from the 22,202 cases registered by the Bissau health authorities by Oct. 28.

The nationwide cholera outbreak, particularly severe around the capital, could now be declared over by mid-December, Indjai said.

Source: Xinhua