WHO confirms Lebanon’s first cholera case, warns of a “very high” risk of outbreak.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a dire warning regarding the risk of a cholera outbreak in Lebanon, stating that the threat level is “very high.” This warning comes in the wake of the first confirmed case of the acute bacterial infection, coinciding with escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Displacement Heightens Cholera Risk

The WHO highlighted the increased danger of cholera spreading among the hundreds of thousands of people displaced due to intensified Israeli military operations against Hezbollah. These operations aim to push Hezbollah fighters away from Israel’s northern borders.

Abdul Nasir Abu Bakr, the WHO representative in Lebanon, addressed journalists during a video conference, stating, “If the cholera outbreak reaches the newly displaced individuals, it could spread rapidly.”

First Case Reported

The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported a potential cholera case involving a Lebanese woman who sought medical attention on Monday due to severe diarrhea and dehydration. The patient, who hails from the village of Samouni in northern Lebanon, does not have any recent travel history.

Lebanon experienced its first cholera outbreak in 30 years between 2022 and 2023, particularly affecting the northern regions of the country. Cholera, a severe infection that leads to diarrhea, results from consuming food or water contaminated with the Vibrio cholerae bacteria, according to the WHO.

Concerns Over Water and Sanitation

Abu Bakr noted that the UN agency had warned for months about the potential resurgence of cholera due to deteriorating water and sanitation conditions among displaced populations and their host communities.

The number of displaced individuals had already begun to rise before last month’s escalation, as Hezbollah engaged in cross-border fire with Israel in support of Gaza following the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Vaccination Efforts and Immunity Gaps

Although health officials recently vaccinated displaced individuals in northern Lebanon, Abu Bakr cautioned that many groups of displaced persons who moved from southern Lebanon and the Beirut area have not developed any immunity against cholera in the past three decades. He emphasized that if the disease reaches these communities, the “risk of an outbreak is very high.”

WHO Enhances Surveillance Measures

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus informed reporters that the organization has strengthened its “monitoring” and “tracking” efforts, including environmental surveillance and water sampling.

In August, the Lebanese Ministry of Health launched a vaccination campaign targeting 350,000 individuals living in high-risk areas. However, this campaign has since “stopped due to escalating violence.”

As the situation develops, health officials continue to monitor the risk of cholera, urging communities to remain vigilant and prepared for potential outbreaks.

 

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