Angola’s Ministry of Health has confirmed a cholera outbreak in Luanda province, resulting in 12 fatalities since the first case was identified last Tuesday. The announcement, made Friday evening, highlighted the scale of the crisis, with 119 cases documented by 6 p.m. local time, 14 of which have been confirmed through laboratory testing. An additional 12 samples remain under analysis.
The outbreak is concentrated in Cacuaco Municipality, a densely populated area in Luanda with over 1.2 million residents. In the past 24 hours alone, 24 new cases have emerged, with 20 reported in Cacuaco. The municipality has borne the brunt of the outbreak, recording 11 of the 12 deaths.
Women have been disproportionately affected, accounting for 53% of cases, while men represent 47%. The Ministry of Health’s bulletin defines cholera as severe or fatal dehydration caused by acute watery diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, in areas where the disease is present. A confirmed case is one where the cholera vibrio bacterium is isolated in stool samples.
Authorities are intensifying efforts to contain the outbreak. The suburban nature of Cacuaco, with its high population density and limited sanitation infrastructure, poses significant challenges. Public health officials are urging residents to take precautionary measures, including boiling drinking water and maintaining strict hygiene practices.
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