The African Tribune

Dengue outbreak in Mali: rising cases and health alerts Mali faces a dual challenge as it battles a dengue fever outbreak alongside ongoing conflicts in the north. Health authorities are on high alert after confirming 12 cases in districts of Bamako, Kalaban Coro, and Koulikoro. The dengue virus, a mosquito-borne illness often mistaken for malaria due to overlapping symptoms, has been detected in Mali. Health officials report that most confirmed cases involve adults and men, according to Kalif Keita, Deputy Director General of Public Health and Hygiene. This is not Mali’s first encounter with dengue, as outbreaks were recorded in 2008, 2017, and 2019. Why dengue is often overlooked in Mali Despite its presence, dengue remains underreported in Africa due to limited d...

Burkina Faso battles unprecedented dengue fever outbreak Since January, a severe dengue fever epidemic has claimed 214 lives in Burkina Faso, with the capital Ouagadougou and the country's second-largest city, Bobo-Dioulasso, being the hardest hit, government officials confirmed. Share The Aedes albopictus mosquito, commonly known as the "tiger mosquito," is wreaking havoc across Burkina Faso. Its rapid proliferation has triggered a significant outbreak of both dengue and chikungunya diseases. According to an official government statement, "from January 1 to October 15, 2023, a total of 50,478 suspected dengue cases were reported, including 25,502 probable cases and 214 deaths." The situation remains dire, with "10,117 suspected cases, including 4,377 probable cases and 48 deaths recor...

Cholera outbreak in Niger raises alarm among health officials Over 600 cholera patients have been hospitalized in recent weeks across the Maradi and Zinder regions of Niger. Heavy rainfall along the border between Niger and Nigeria has triggered a fresh cholera outbreak. This acute intestinal infection stems from bacteria thriving in contaminated, stagnant water. According to official reports, more than 600 cases have been confirmed in the affected regions. To date, 400 patients have recovered, while 156 remain under medical supervision. Cholera spreads rapidly through contaminated water and food, particularly when hygiene practices are inadequate, sanitation systems fail, and access to clean drinking water is limited. Strengthening hygiene measures and raising public awareness are c...

Aide humanitaire Humanitarian organizations are sounding the alarm as nearly 230,000 individuals have been uprooted in Burkina Faso since the start of the year, a direct consequence of escalating jihadist group violence. This dire security situation continues to severely impact children and their families across the Central Sahel nation. The Groupe de coordination opérationnelle de la réponse rapide (GCORR) reported that nearly 37,000 households have been displaced following 48 displacement alerts. This figure represents a sig...