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.
