Cholera epidemic continues to spread in Sierra Leone

The Cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone continues to escalate with the number of cases reported now close to 19,000, according to the World Health Organization(WHO).The disease has already claimed 273 lives. WHO says 12 of the country’s 13 districts are now reporting cholera cases with the capital Freetown being the epicenter of the outbreak. The spread of the epidemic is being fuelled by poor sanitation and the acute shortage of clean water especially in the capital city Freetown. Dr William Perea from WHO said poor infrastructure is also preventing health workers from reaching some of the worst affected communities in rural areas.