Cholera kills seven in Galgaduud

Over seven people, including children, have died from a cholera outbreak since the beginning of this month in Gadoon village of Somalia’s central region Galgaduud.

Almost 20 other people were also receiving hospital treatment for illnesses.

The victims are suspected to have drunk contaminated water.

Due to the drought situation that has hit most parts of Somalia for the past two years, residents have had to share the scarce water sources with livestock, leading to high rate of contamination of the water through faeces and urine.

Residents of  Gadoon village which lies few killometres away from Dhusamareeb town said the patients were taken to Dhusamareeb Hospital amid the hospital faces medical shortage.

Cholera is transmitted through contaminated drinking water and causes acute diarrhoea, and the outbreak has been exacerbated by weeks of heavy rains in the region.

After a short incubation period of two to five days, the disease causes severe diarrhoea, draining the body of its water. The sudden and dramatic loss of fluid is often fatal.

The current drought in Somalia is the worst since 1945, according to the UN.

Half the country’s population is in need of emergency humanitarian assistance, including thousands of children.