Cholera Caused by Powders (Mozambique)

http://allafrica.com/stories/201002190689.html

AllAfrica.com
19 February 2010

Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)

Mozambique: Seven Deaths in Cholera Violence in Zambezia

Maputo — Seven people have died in disturbances caused by disinformation about the spread of cholera in the central Mozambican district of Gurue, in Zambezia province, reports the Beira daily paper "Diario de Mocambique".

The rumour has been spread that health workers and traditional leaders, far from fighting cholera, are spreading the disease. [...]

[They spread a white powder in public places, and anyone who steps in it contracts the disease. Many schools have shut down because teachers and students alike fear coming in contact with the mysterious powder.]

http://allafrica.com/stories/201002170965.html

AllAfrica.com
17 February 2010

Mozambique: Crowd Defends Cholera Riot

[...] [A wounded rioter] claimed that health activists carry "blue flasks" which contain cholera, and in the health centre "we found two blue flasks of cholera and these would have been distributed to activists".

"Diario de Mocambique" carries a photograph of one of these "blue flasks" - which is in fact a bottle of the water purifier sold under the commercial name "certeza" ("certainty"), easily available in shops throughout the country, and advertised on national television.