AA / Tunis / Majdi Ismail
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that the global stock of oral cholera vaccine is exhausted, potentially hampering efforts to stem the spread of the disease.
In its monthly report, cited by the Tribune de Genève, the WHO indicated that ‘As of October 14, the global stock of oral cholera vaccines is exhausted and there are no more doses available.’
”This shortage poses significant challenges to efforts to control outbreaks and hampers efforts to control the spread of the disease,” WHO explained.
The United Nations health agency stressed that global vaccine production is operating at full capacity, however demand has exceeded supply.
During the period from September 1 to October 14, the international coordination group for the supply of vaccines received requests for oral cholera vaccines from Bangladesh, Sudan, Niger, Ethiopia and Burma, but of the 8.4 million doses requested, only 7.6 million could be shipped, the WHO said.
No less than 439,724 cases of cholera and 3,432 deaths had been recorded this year as of September 29, according to the WHO, adding: ”Although the number of cases in 2024 will be 16% lower than last year , the 126% increase in the number of deaths is very worrying.
New cholera outbreaks were reported in Niger (705 cases and 17 deaths) and Thailand (five cases with no deaths), bringing the total number of affected countries to 30 in 2024, according to the WHO.
A case of cholera was detected on October 16 in Lebanon, a country in the grip of war.
The WHO has warned “of the very high risk of spread” of this epidemic diarrheal disease in this country due to the deterioration of health conditions among the many displaced people.
The economic crisis that has been plaguing Lebanon for years and its impact on public water and electricity services have forced the WHO and the Lebanese authorities to organize preventive vaccinations against cholera in the areas most at risk.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacillus Vibrio cholerae. Diarrhea and severe dehydration caused by the bacillus can cause death within a few hours.
Only part of the dispatches, which the Anadolu Agency broadcasts to its subscribers via the Internal Broadcasting System (HAS), is broadcast on the AA website, in summary form. Please contact us to subscribe.
Related News :