Yemen is bearing the ‘greatest burden’ of the global cholera outbreak, WHO warns. health News
Yemen has recorded 249,900 cases and 861 deaths this year – 35 percent of the global cholera burden and 18 percent of global recorded mortality.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says Yemen is bearing the “highest burden” of cholera globally since the outbreak began in March.
In a statement on Monday, the UN agency said that as of December 1, Yemen had reported 249,900 suspected cases of cholera and 861 deaths this year.
WHO said these numbers represent 35 percent of the global cholera burden and 18 percent of the world’s mortality.
According to the global health body, the number of cases and deaths reported in November was 37 percent and 27 percent higher than the same month in 2023.
It said the increase this year was “due to updated data” from Yemen, adjusting for more detailed information from all governorates.
“Outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and acute watery diarrhea place additional burden on an already stressed health system facing multiple disease outbreaks. WHO representative and head of mission in Yemen, Arturo Pesigan, said WHO and humanitarian actors are strained in their efforts to meet growing needs due to a severe lack of funding.
WHO said it was forced to close treatment centers in Yemen due to a $20 million funding gap.
So far, the UN agency has closed 47 diarrhea treatment centers and is preparing to close another 17 at the end of the year in the poor country. The agency will also close another 39 oral rehydration centers by the end of the year.
“Lack of safe drinking water, poor community hygiene practices and limited access to timely treatment hinder efforts to prevent and control the disease,” Pesigan said.
The agency stressed that “urgent and comprehensive” interventions encompassing coordination, surveillance, laboratory capacity, case management, community engagement initiatives, water, sanitation, hygiene and oral cholera vaccination are needed to combat cholera in Yemen. is required. It said timely and adequate funding is essential for these interventions.
According to WHO, Yemen has been experiencing frequent cholera outbreaks for several years, including the world’s largest outbreak in recent history from 2017 to 2020, with more than 2.5 million cases and 4,000 deaths, according to UNICEF .
WHO says about four million people Cholera spreads every year globally,
