Yemen cholera cases near 5000

The Ministry of Public Health and Population in Yemen has reported additional cholera cases in the country.

To date, 4825 suspected cases of cholera, including 61 associated deaths were reported in Aden, Amran, Al Hudaydah, Al-Bayda‘a, Al-Dhale’a, Ibb, Hajjah, Lahij, Ta’izz, Sana’a City and Sana’a governorates. Of these, 89 cases have been laboratory-confirmed as Vibrio cholerae 01.

While acute watery diarrhoeal diseases are endemic in Yemen, the ongoing conflict has stretched the capacity of the national health systems.

WHO is working with the Ministry of Public Health and Population, UNICEF and other partner nongovernmental organizations on the ground to coordinate the overall response to this outbreak through a joint Health and WASH taskforce. In view of the current outbreak, surveillance for acute watery diarrhea has been enhanced in all governorates of the country, 21 cholera treatment centres have been established so far in the affected governorates, training on case management has been conducted, and provision of essential supplies such as IV fluids, oral rehydration solutions and water chlorination tablets have been made.

WHO is also supporting social mobilization and health education campaign among citizens to raise their awareness on prevention of cholera and other diarrheal diseases through enhancing hygiene.

More than 7.6 million people are currently living in areas affected by the current outbreak.

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