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Significant drop in the number of cholera cases in Lebanon
January 18, 2023Health
The number of cholera cases has decreased significantly in Lebanon since the start of the year, UN humanitarian agencies announced on Wednesday, noting that no new deaths have been recorded since December 9, 2022.
According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ( OCHA ), the cumulative incidence of cholera cases has decreased significantly in recent weeks.
"Since the beginning of 2023, most cases have been reported in the Bekaa, and to a lesser extent in Akkar and Mount Lebanon," the UN agencies reported.
The recent cholera outbreak in Lebanon started in a refugee camp near the Akkar region and is likely linked to the cholera outbreak in neighboring Syria. The epidemic has spread in the 8 governorates of Lebanon (20 of the 26 districts).
As of January 17, a total of 6,158 suspected and confirmed cases of cholera have been reported, along with 23 associated deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 0.37%. But no new deaths have been recorded since December 9, 2022.
More than 870,000 doses of vaccine already provided
Almost half of suspected and confirmed cases are under the age of 15 and 6% are aged 65 and over. Women continue to represent 53% of cases. Overall, 19% of suspected and confirmed cases required hospitalization. Nationwide, less than 10 cholera beds are currently occupied.
As of January 11, 2022, 1,279 suspected stool and sewage samples have been sent to the World Health Organization ( WHO ) Collaborating Center and Reference Laboratory at Rafik Hariri University Hospital. Of these samples, 451 stool and sewage samples tested positive for cholera.
On the ground, health sector partners continue to support the implementation of the national vaccination campaign. The objective is to guarantee access to the oral vaccine against cholera for all populations living in high-risk areas of the country.
This includes mobilizing over 250 vaccination teams for door-to-door vaccine delivery. As of January 10, more than 870,000 doses of vaccine have been provided.
In addition, more than 8,200 cholera hygiene kits have been distributed to affected households.
More than 485,000 liters of fuel and 34 tons of chlorine were supplied to pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants to ensure the operation and safety of the water distributed by the public network.
https://news.un.org/fr/story/2023/01/1131442
