This week the WHO has offered an update on the cholera outbreak affecting four health areas in the coastal city of Lomé, reporting a total of 67 suspected cases between Nov 11 and Dec 28, 2020, of which ‘19 (28%) were fishermen who move frequently between Togo and neighboring countries (especially Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria)’. The agency also noted that Lomé, Togo’s capital, is a known cholera hotspot and adjacent countries are cholera-endemic. Meanwhile in the Democratic Republic of Congo, almost 90 percent of recent cholera infections were recorded in the provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu, Haut-Katanga and Lomami, as outbreaks which had been easing were inflamed again after heavy rains; and in Yemen, cholera cases in the SE province of Hadramout have persisted three months beyond the annual peak season which usually ends in September, prompting an extensive vaccination campaign.
Advice for travellers
Cholera is usually spread in contaminated water. For most short-stay travellers, the risk of infection is low. Australians travelling to regions where a cholera outbreak is occurring should adhere to strict personal hygiene guidelines and choose food and beverages with care. Read more about cholera.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.