Cholera expands in Tanzania

Up to mid-October, the cholera outbreak has increased four fold with slightly more than 4,400 cases and 68 deaths nationwide. The affected regions include Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Pwani, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Iringa, Dodoma, Geita, Mara, Singida, Shinyaga, Mwanza and Zanzibar. The city most affected is Dar es Salaam.

In Mwanza, 317 patients and 18 deaths have been registered, particularly in Nansio, Murutungulu and Sengerema. Many cases were reported at Kanyala village in early September.

In the Handeni District in Tanga Region, 6 people died who were from Segera, Kwamnele, Kwengoma, Kwamatuku and Ndolwa.

Advice

The risk of cholera infection for the general traveller to Tanzania may be low. However, in the affected areas, the risk can be high if all food and water precautions are ignored. If gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., vomiting and profuse watery diarrhoea) develop while visiting the affected area, travellers should seek medical care at once. Severe dehydration may occur very quickly.