Geneva:
The World Health Organization has issued a warning about the high risk of cholera spreading in Lebanon after a case of the infection was detected in the country. The WHO emphasized the potential for cholera to spread among the displaced population following the recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in northern Lebanon.
Abdinasir Abubakar, WHO’s representative in Lebanon, expressed concern about the rapid spread of cholera if it reaches the displaced communities. The case of cholera was confirmed in a Lebanese national without a history of travel, indicating potential local transmission.
Lebanon experienced its first cholera outbreak in 30 years between 2022 and 2023, primarily affecting the northern region. Cholera is a severe diarrhoeal disease caused by contaminated food or water.
The WHO has been warning about the resurgence of cholera due to deteriorating water and sanitation conditions in the displaced communities. The agency has intensified surveillance and tracing efforts, including environmental monitoring and water sampling.
Although some areas in northern Lebanon have been vaccinated or exposed to cholera, communities in southern Lebanon and Beirut lack immunity, increasing the risk of spread if the disease enters these populations.
The Lebanese health ministry initiated an oral cholera vaccination campaign targeting high-risk areas, but the violence in the region disrupted the efforts.
(This article is unaltered except for the title and has been sourced from a syndicated feed.)
