Description of the situation
An increase in the number of cholera cases has been reported in the capital city Colombo. Of the 60 new cases reported in the week 16-22 November, 40 were registered in Colombo district (including 32 in the city itself). No deaths have been reported.
Public health inspectors have been mobilized to track down sources of infection in Colombo city. In addition, the Ministry of Health has already implemented many cholera control activities throughout the country. However, cholera has spread to several districts previously free of the disease, where sanitation remains inadequate.
Sri Lanka is suffering from a cholera outbreak which started at the end of September 1997. A total of 431 cases were reported for 1997. As of 13 November 1998, the total number of cases notified for 1998 is 1 264, with 36 deaths. On average, 125 cases per month have been reported this year, with a case-fatality rate of 2.7 %