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At least
53 people have died of cholera in the drought-hit southern
Somali region of Bay in the past three days.
The governor
of Bay Mohamed Ali Aden Qalinleh on Wednesday described the
situation in his region as disastrous for the combination
of drought and cholera epidemic.
The worst
affected districts in the region are Dinsor and Qansahdhereh
where the people are now falling for the disease in their
hundreds.
According
to local health authorities, 31 people mainly children have
died of cholera in Dinsor district and its surrounding villages
in the past three days alone.
In Qansahdhereh
district, about 60 kilometers north of Dinsor district, more
than 22 people have died for the disease district since last
Sunday. Hundreds of patients have been admitted to the quarantine
facilities.
The disease
has been rampant especially among the weak people since the
beginning of this week.
Qalinleh
said in a telephone interview with Xinhua in Baidoa town on
Wednesday that he had been alarmed by the rapid spread of
the disease in Bay region.
Qalinleh
said that considerable anti-cholera supplies have been taken
to the affected districts and new quarantine facilities have
been opened.
He said
lack of water is a major problem in the region owing to the
prolonged drought.
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