WHO confirms first case of cholera in Lebanon

WHO confirms first case of cholera in Lebanon

The United Nations says it has detected the first case of cholera in Northern Lebanon, sparking fears of an outbreak amongst those displaced by the war. Since the start of intense fighting in Lebanon, many have fled to the northern parts of the country. According to official UN data some 1.2 million people have so far been uprooted. Jody Jacobs has more.

October 18, 2024 20

Africa

Nigeria’s cholera outbreaks: why they happen and are so hard to control

By Stella Ifeanyi Smith, Mountain Top University On 9 June 2024 the Lagos State government declared a cholera outbreak. Three days later, it announced that 324 suspected cases had been reported in the state, including 15 people who died and 40 who were discharged after treatment. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported that as of 11 June, 1,141 suspected cholera […]

June 27, 2024 23

Africa

Kenya floods raise cholera risk as WHO records 44 cases

At least 44 cholera cases have been reported in Kenya’s Tana River county, as flooding raises the risk of the spread of water-borne diseases. A statement by the World Health Organisation which cites the numbers, says Kenyan officials supported by WHO and other agencies have been monitoring the health situation and response around the country in the wake of the floods. The flooding, according to BBC Africa has affected more […]

May 9, 2024 10

Africa

WHO approves new oral simplified cholera vaccine

World Health Organization's has approved a new oral vaccine for cholera. The oral vaccine for cholera received prequalification by the WHO on 12 April 2024. The inactivated oral vaccine Euvichol-S has a similar efficacy to existing vaccines but a simplified formulation, allowing opportunities to rapidly increase production capacity. There were 473 000 cholera cases reported to WHO in 2022 -- double the number from 2021. Further increase of cases by 700 […]

April 22, 2024 164

Africa

Ferry Sinking off Mozambique’s North Coast Claims Over 90 Lives

Tragedy struck off the north coast of Mozambique as a ferry carrying more than 130 individuals, including children, sank, resulting in over 90 fatalities. Authorities report that the vessel, a converted fishing boat en route from Lunga, encountered distress while attempting to reach an island in Nampula province. Amid the disaster, only five individuals have been rescued. Jaime Neto, Nampula’s Secretary of State, reveals that many passengers sought to flee […]

April 8, 2024 11

Health / Medical

Climate change behind Africa’s cholera increase

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has tied the worst outbreak of cholera in three years to climate change, saying adverse weather is raising the risk of this disease faster than in the rest of the world. That’s as floods in the Democratic Republic of Congo — and across southern Africa — stretch already fragile health systems. The increase in cases comes even as Africa is the region […]

February 1, 2024 26

Namibia

SADC Council of Ministers meets over cholera outbreak

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) held an extraordinary meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers on Monday to discuss the cholera outbreak being experienced in several member states. Speaking during the virtual meeting, Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, Téte António, said the meeting sought to take collective and coordinated action to prevent and control cholera in the region. “In our meeting today we seek to […]

January 30, 2024 5

Africa

Cholera outbreak spreads across 12 African countries

The World Health Organisation Africa Region says the cholera outbreak has spread to 12 countries on the continent. As of Thursday, ten-thousand-887 cases and 432 deaths were reported across nine of the country’s ten provinces. WHO Africa emergency health officer, Patrick Otim, says the Lusaka district is the epicenter of the outbreak.

January 22, 2024 33

Africa

Zambia records worst cholera outbreak

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has requested emergency funds worth 4.6 million dollars to address Zambia’s worst cholera outbreak in recent years. 351 People have died and nearly 9,000 active cases have been registered.

January 16, 2024 43