The recent outbreak of drug-resistant cholera has been reported among the British citizens who have consumed holy water from a pilgrimage site in Ethiopia. Metro. Barmel Georgis site, is believed to attract thousands of devotees, officers of healing properties. Unfortunately, the water from this site is contaminated, causing an outbreak of cholera.
Ethiopia faces an important challenge in providing clean water to its population. About half of the country’s 122 million people lack access to safe drinking water. Despite this, many Ethiopian and international pilgrims continue to consume holy water from sites such as Barmel Georgis, often without proper treatment or testing.
The UK’s Health Protection Agency said that the age of four people became infected between the age of 20 to 60s.
As Metro, Passengers returned to the UK from Ethiopia between January and mid-February of this year, when the outbreak of cholera took place in the country.
“Three hospitals admitted and reported symptoms of water diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration, one required intensive care for fluid revival,” Eurosurvilance Informed
The four made complete recovery, but other cases in Germany have also been linked to the holy site in Ethiopia, where it is common for visitors to bring back ‘healing’ water bottles.
The latest outbreak in Ethiopia began in 2022, and about 60,000 cases and 726 deaths have been reported. Oxford.
The cholera is usually contracted by contaminated food or water and spreads to residential areas that lead to proper sewerage network or main drinking water.
A person can take anywhere between 12 hours and five days to show symptoms after ingestion in contaminated food or water.
