Addis Ababa – An Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) outbreak in Ethiopia’s northern regional states of Afar, Amhara and Tigray has infected about 4,500 people over the last four months, Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Health reported.
Amhara regional state had the highest number of infected people with 3,000, followed by Tigray regional state at 1,200 and Afar regional state at 300.
Speaking on Friday, Health Minister, Yifru Berhan, said the diarrhoea outbreaks were being controlled through collaboration of his ministry and regional health bureaus.
The ministry in particular is working on eradicating possible Acute Watery Diarrhoea breeding grounds by treating unhygienic conditions in mining areas, agricultural areas and factories.
Berhan also said educational programmes on the cause of AWD were being taught in addition to monetary assistance being given to regional health bureaus to deal with diarrhoea outbreaks.
With Ethiopia’s rainy season stretching from late June to September already underway, the ministry has urged community members to stay vigilant to avoid the spread of infectious diarrhoea.
