By Andy Channelle, IFRC

At the end of October 2012, Hurricane Sandy tore a path through the Caribbean before landing on the eastern seaboard of the United States. The storm caused hundreds of deaths and destroyed homes, farms and livelihoods in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas. Recovery is likely to cost billions of dollars.

Introduction

In this issue, a general overview of outbreaks that occurred within the WHO African Region between January and December 2012 is provided as well as a summary of ongoing outbreaks as reported by the Member States.

New IDS rapid response briefing calls for more integrated approach to zoonoses

In the latest issue of the IDS rapid response briefing series, authors from the Dynamic Drivers of Disease in Africa Consortium explore the benefits of developing a more joined up approach to tackling zoonoses.

Content

Overview of the major reported outbreaks in the WHO African Region

• Cholera

Ongoing outbreaks

• Cholera in Sierra Leone
• Cholera in DR Congo
• Ebola in Uganda
• Marburg in Uganda
• Rift Valley Fever in Mauritania

Ended Outbreaks

• Ebola in DR Congo

December 06, 2012

KAMPALA — Uganda's recent flood of Congolese refugees is having unexpected side-effects: some Ugandans are adopting the Congolese custom of eating primates, a new trend that may be linked to outbreaks of Ebola and represents a potential threat to the country's endangered chimpanzee population.

For some conservationists, protecting an animal that shares almost 99 percent of its DNA with humans is a deeply personal issue.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Improved food security and nutrition conditions in Eastern Africa

• More than 60,000 people displaced in the north of Goma as M23 takes over

• More than 11,000 former Burundian refugees voluntarily repatriated from Tanzania

• Kenya’s Department of Refugee Affairs allows a two-week refugee registration in Dadaab refugee complex

• Water trucking operations stopped in Dawe Sarar woreda (Oromia) and Somali Region due to increased rain

Link: Uganda: Ebola Outbreak DREF operation n° MDRUG031

By Darious Magara and Innocent Anguyo

The Police have halted visitation of inmates in all prisons across the city and neighbouring districts.

The move is aimed at curbing the spread of the deadly Ebola haemorrhagic fever among inmates and other people.

Addressing the media at a weekly Police briefing yesterday, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi yesterday said the visitors will only be given access to the suspects if the reason is serious enough.

The Global Overview is a weekly update that provides a snapshot of current humanitarian priorities and recent events. The Global Overview collates information from a wide range of sources, including Reliefweb and media sources, and displays this information in a manner that allows for quick comparison of different humanitarian crises.