#13,552
A week ago, in Mali: Reports Of An `Unknown Disease' In Mondoro, Mopti Region, we looked at a FluTrackers (h/t Pathfinder) report of an unidentified outbreak in Mondoro, in the center of the country.
Today the World Health Organization's African Regional Office has published their latest Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 32: 04 - 10 August 2018, which identifies this outbreak as due to severe malnutrition.
The brief report reads:
Three villages in the commune of Mondoro, Douentza district, Central Mali are experiencing an epidemic of malnutrition following the inter-communal conflict that prevails in the locality.
From mid-March to 3 August 2018, a total of 224 cases including 35 deaths (CFR 15.6%) have been reported from three villages (Douna, Niagassadiou and Tiguila) in the commune of Mondoro, Douentza district, Northern Mali.
This disease is manifested by the following signs: oedema of the lower limbs, myalgia, functional impotence, dyspnea sometimes followed by death.
As we’ve discussed often in the past,`mystery’ diseases usually turn out to be far less mysterious once medical teams arrive and can begin their work. Sadly, malnutrition is no stranger to the Sahel region of Africa, which has been plagued by both recurrent drought and civil strife.
Last April, the UN's Mali: Humanitarian bulletin, March - April 2018 warned:
More than one out of four Malians in food insecurity during the lean season
Increase of food insecure people during the lean season
During the lean season which spreads from June to August 2018, more than 4.3 million people, or more than one out of four Malians, will be food insecure and in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the regional analysis of the situation of food insecurity –harmonized framework- March 2018. Among these people, nearly 885,000 will be in a crisis phase (or phase 3) and about 48,000 in an emergency phase (or phase 4).
In addition, the harmonized framework estimates that more than 3.4 million people are under pressure and could switch into the crisis phase in the event of shocks affecting their livelihoods. Compared with last year’s lean season, the food insecure population (phases 3 and 4) will increase by more than 300,000 people this year.
As a reminder, some 387,000 people are food insecure (crisis phase and emergency phase) during the current period that covers the months of March, April and May 2018.
(Continue . . . )
The WHO describes Mali's longstanding humanitarian crisis as:
Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment
20-Jul-18
The complex humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the political-security crisis and inter-community conflicts continues in Mali. More than four million people (nearly a quarter of the population) are affected by the humanitarian crisis, including 61 404 who are internally displaced and nearly 140 000 who are refugees in neighbouring countries such as Niger, Mauritania and Burki-a Faso (data from CMP report, 7 June 2018). The health system is still weak, while the health need is increasing.
The departure of health system personnel and incidents targeting health infrastructure, personnel and health equipment are worsening the existing health system. There are 1.7 million people in need of health assistance in the face of inadequate numbers of health-cares workers (3.1 per 10 000 people, compared to the WHO recommended 17 per 10 000).
