This Weekly Bulletin focuses on selected acute public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 52 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key ongoing events, including:
- Listeriosis in South Africa
- Lassa fever in Nigeria
- Cholera in Zambia
- Cholera in Uganda
- Humanitarian crisis in South Sudan
- Humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For each of these events, a brief description followed by public health measures implemented and an interpretation of the situation is provided.
A table is provided at the end of the bulletin with information on all public health events currently being monitored in the region, as well as events that have recently been closed.
Major issues and challenges include:
The outbreak of listeriosis in South Africa continues to raise public health concerns in the region, evoking diverse public, economic and political reactions. Twelve countries have reportedly imposed trade import bans on South African meat products, with three countries extending the bans to dairy products, fruits and vegetables. While countries have to strengthen their national food safety and disease surveillance systems to protect the health of their populations, this should be done in line with provisions of the International Health Regulations and scientific principles.
Zambia is experiencing an upsurge of cholera, particularly in the urban Lusaka District. The resurgence has been attributed to recent heavy rains and floods. This trend needs to be reversed as soon as possible and the outbreak ultimately brought to a halt.