R 231449Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY LOME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8977
INFO AMEMBASSY ACCRA 
AMEMBASSY COTONOU 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY PARIS UNCLAS LOME 000024 
 
 
DEPT FOR OES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS:      
SUBJECT: CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN TOGO 
 
 1. Summary. The GOT announced on December 21 that cholera had 
been discovered in Togo. While only a handful of deaths have 
been reported, many people have been diagnosed with the 
disease. The government held a press conference to mobilize 
interested parties and discuss strategies for preventing the 
further spread of the disease. Overall, however, very little 
public official attention has been paid to this outbreak. End 
Summary. 
 
 2. During a December 21 press conference, Ministry of Health 
representatives said the first case of cholera in Togo was 
discovered August 26, 2008, and during the following three 
month period there were 302 registered cases and 3 deaths. 
Since that time, an additional 366 cases have been 
discovered, and 2 more people have died. In the last two 
weeks, the number of new cases has declined. The Minister of 
Health, Komlan Mally, told reporters that many neighborhoods 
in Lome have been touched and named those most affected, 
several of which are close to the embassy and embassy 
employee housing. 
 
 3. The government warned that cholera is easily 
transmittable, dangerous, and often fatal. Ministry officials 
noted that factors favoring the spread of cholera include a 
lack of potable water, poor personal hygiene, bad nutrition, 
and the environment in neighborhoods. To fight the further 
spread of the disease, they recommended close management of 
existing cases, and paying more attention to personal 
hygiene. 
 
HAWKINS