Outbreaks of hepatitis E in Sub-Saharan Africa are rarely reported

As reported in ProMED:
Notwithstanding the recent episode in Uganda [see: ProMED-mail post Hepatitis E virus - Uganda 20080304.0894], outbreaks of hepatitis E in Sub-Saharan Africa are rarely reported. The following summary was abstracted from GIDEON.

Botswana
1985 – An outbreak (245 cases) in Maun was ascribed to possible water contamination.

Central African Republic
2002 – An outbreak (48 confirmed cases) in Bangui may have been caused by contaminated drinking water.
2004 – An outbreak (10 cases) in Bangui was caused by contaminated water sold by a street vendor.

Chad
2004 – An outbreak (1442 cases, 46 fatal) was reported in Goz Amer and Goz Beida – Sudanese refugee camps.
2005 – An outbreak (50 or more fatal cases) was reported in the area of Goz Beida (eastern Chad).

Democratic Republic of Congo
2006 – An outbreak (341 cases, 13 fatal) was reported in Equateur Province.

Djibouti
1993 – An outbreak of mixed hepatitis A and hepatitis E infection in Djibouti City was caused by contaminated water.

Ethiopia
1988 to 1989 – An outbreak (423 hospitalized) of acute hepatitis E was reported among military personnel in the north.

Ivory Coast
1986 – An outbreak was reported in Tortiya (northwestern region), the 1st well-documented outbreak of hepatitis E in Africa.

Namibia
1983 – An outbreak (201 known cases, 7 fatal – 6 of these pregnant) was reported in the Kavango region.
1995 – An outbreak of presumed water-borne hepatitis E was reported (no details given).

Somalia
1985 to 1986 – Outbreaks (2000 cases or more, 87 fatal) were reported in 4 refugee camps. 40 (46 percent) of the persons who died were pregnant women.
1988 to 1989 – An outbreak (11 413 cases, 346 fatal) was reported in the Shebeli River in the Lower Shebeli region.

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