Luanda, Feb. 27, 2025 (Lusa) - The Luanda provincial government has decided to temporarily close the Mabunda market, the main fish market in the Angolan capital, because of the high risk of cholera transmission due to poor hygiene and sanitary conditions.

The closure, from midnight on Friday, follows a visit by the National Commission for the Fight Against Cholera, to assess the risk of hygiene, sanitary and environmental conditions at the Avó Mabunda Market, which opted for this emergency measure to contain and prevent the outbreak.

"The National Commission for the Fight Against Cholera, the Luanda Provincial Government and the Luanda Semi-Industrial Artisanal Fishing Association are working to create conditions that allow for health safety for fishermen, consumers, fish and boats," the provincial government said in a statement.

Artisanal and semi-industrial fishing boat owners are being directed to other embarkation and disembarkation points, and sellers of non-fishing products are advised to go to other markets in Luanda.

The Angolan capital is the epicentre of the cholera outbreak declared on 7 January, which already has 5,336 cases and has caused the death of 193 people, 96 of them in Luanda.

RCR/ADB // ADB.

Lusa