Dozens of Deaths for Malaria Outbreak in the Extreme South of Algeria

People in a malaria camp in Algeria. Photo: X/ @oskai_z

September 29, 2024 Hour: 2:37 pm

Algeria announced on Sunday a second shipment of medicated aircraft to the far south regions of the country due to the proliferation of cases of diphtheria and malaria among the population, where at least ten deaths were reported.

Algerian senator Brahim Akadi today said that 100 people have been killed in the provinces of Bordj Badji Mokhtar and In Guezam, bordering Mali and Niger, and warned that the number could increase as he accused the Southern health authorities as responasible of the outbreak.

Akadi said local health officials ignored the “epidemic situation” and pointed to the lack of sanitation facilities in these desert regions in southern Algeria, almost two thousand kilometres from the capital.

#Algeria Mass graves are forming in Bordj Badji Mokhtar due to the outbreak of malaria, with dozens of deaths and thousands of wounded recorded. 💔 The disease continues to claim lives. It seems that saving citizens is not a priority for the military regime pic.twitter.com/55EdeizZ0y
— Mahdi Baladi 🇲🇦 (@MahdiBaladi1) September 26, 2024

“How do we explain the deaths of 100 people so far, if not for lack of action and incompetence,” Akadi said in his speech to the Senate.

Last Friday, the Algerian Ministry of Health confirmed the occurrence of cases of diphtheria and malaria “imported” from neighboring sub-Saharan regions although so far it has not reported any victims.

According to the Ministry’s director of prevention, Djamel Fourar, Algeria has organized three vaccination campaigns since 2023 against this disease that is contracted through the bite of infected mosquitoes.

The Algerian Red Crescent launched an appeal to volunteer professionals, doctors and nurses to participate in medical convoys arriving in the area.