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| "Ten-fold rise" in new cases of malaria in Chad | "Ten-fold rise" in new cases of malaria in Chad |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An emergency operation is under way in the Salamat region of Chad after an "alarming" rise in cases of malaria. | |
| Medicines Sans Frontier (MSF) said the number of reported new cases rose from 1,228 in the first week of August to 14,021 by the end of the month. | Medicines Sans Frontier (MSF) said the number of reported new cases rose from 1,228 in the first week of August to 14,021 by the end of the month. |
| Cases of the mosquito-borne disease do peak during the July to November rainy season. | Cases of the mosquito-borne disease do peak during the July to November rainy season. |
| But MSF Health Advisor for Chad Dr Turid Piening said the sudden high spike in this area is unusual. | But MSF Health Advisor for Chad Dr Turid Piening said the sudden high spike in this area is unusual. |
| She said: "More than 80% of people who are coming for consultations are coming because they are infected with malaria, normally its 30%-40% at this time of year. | She said: "More than 80% of people who are coming for consultations are coming because they are infected with malaria, normally its 30%-40% at this time of year. |
| "It is now the top illness diagnosed in our clinics and that is unusual for this area." | "It is now the top illness diagnosed in our clinics and that is unusual for this area." |
| A quarter of all deaths in Chad are attributed to malaria and it is the most common cause of death for children, according to MSF. | A quarter of all deaths in Chad are attributed to malaria and it is the most common cause of death for children, according to MSF. |
| Latest available figures from the World Health Organisation show more than 650,000 people died around the world from the disease in 2010, most of them children in Africa. | Latest available figures from the World Health Organisation show more than 650,000 people died around the world from the disease in 2010, most of them children in Africa. |
| "Strange Spirit" | "Strange Spirit" |
| An MSF team working in the town of Am Timan was alerted to a sharp increase in cases in July by government health officials. | An MSF team working in the town of Am Timan was alerted to a sharp increase in cases in July by government health officials. |
| However, this sudden rise has not been officially recognised as an outbreak. | However, this sudden rise has not been officially recognised as an outbreak. |
| "Many people in our village were attacked by a strange spirit that made them shiver and act in a crazy way," said Halima Ibrahim whose eight-year-old daughter Salimata Ali contracted Malaria. | "Many people in our village were attacked by a strange spirit that made them shiver and act in a crazy way," said Halima Ibrahim whose eight-year-old daughter Salimata Ali contracted Malaria. |
| "My daughter started to shiver, she also complained of a headache and pain in her joints. We prayed but the sickness remained." | "My daughter started to shiver, she also complained of a headache and pain in her joints. We prayed but the sickness remained." |
| MSF doctors came across Salimata before she became too sick to treat. She is now on anti-malaria drugs. | MSF doctors came across Salimata before she became too sick to treat. She is now on anti-malaria drugs. |
| Dr Piening said despite malaria being one of Chad's biggest killers, most people in Salamat have no access to life saving drugs or simple life saving mosquito nets. | Dr Piening said despite malaria being one of Chad's biggest killers, most people in Salamat have no access to life saving drugs or simple life saving mosquito nets. |
| "They are a nomadic population. The best way to protect yourself against malaria is to sleep under mosquito nets, that can stop 60% of the transmission. | "They are a nomadic population. The best way to protect yourself against malaria is to sleep under mosquito nets, that can stop 60% of the transmission. |
| "Most people in these areas don't have bed nets. They sleep in the open or in little huts so they are very vulnerable." | "Most people in these areas don't have bed nets. They sleep in the open or in little huts so they are very vulnerable." |
| The cause of the sudden increase in cases is unclear. | The cause of the sudden increase in cases is unclear. |
| Dr Colin Sutherland, and expert in parasitology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said it could be down to a particularly bad rainy reason, and - potentially - more malaria-infected mosquitoes. | Dr Colin Sutherland, and expert in parasitology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said it could be down to a particularly bad rainy reason, and - potentially - more malaria-infected mosquitoes. |
| He said: "Perhaps there is even something going on in the mosquito population that means there is more around than normal and that means there are additional transmissions going on. | He said: "Perhaps there is even something going on in the mosquito population that means there is more around than normal and that means there are additional transmissions going on. |
| "That would be concerning. It would suggest control measures aren't keeping things in check in that area." | "That would be concerning. It would suggest control measures aren't keeping things in check in that area." |
| Dr Sutherland said another possibility was that MSF staff had been more effective at dealing with the problem. | Dr Sutherland said another possibility was that MSF staff had been more effective at dealing with the problem. |