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Severe Cholera Outbreak In Yemen Kills Over 100,000

Cholera is a dangerous disease that causes acute diarrhea in people. Its symptoms include severe dehydration and muscle cramps. Generally, caused due to intake of contaminated food or water, this disease can lead to death if untreated.

Severe Cholera Outbreak In Yemen Kills Over 100,000

Cholera is a dangerous disease that causes acute diarrhea in people.

An outbreak of Cholera has been wreaking havoc in the city of Sanaa in Yemen. More than 96,000 people had been reported ill and at least 746 had died since late April, as mentioned in a statement by Nasser al-Argaly, health undersecretary to the rebel-run government. A bigger cause for worry is the fact that more than 46% of the reported cases are of children. As of June 7, WHO reported an increase in the number of suspected cholera cases to 101,820.

Why is it happening?

Officials have attributed the cause of the epidemic to the Saudi-led campaign against Houthi rebels in the area. This has led to mass destruction of health infrastructure and created medical supply-shortages. Over 14.8 million people currently do not have any access to health facilities.

A civil-war situation has occurred, with intense conflict and violence leading to the hampered functioning of healthcare. At least 274 health facilities have been damaged or destroyed and 13 health workers have been killed and 31 injured in the violence, till now. According to Tarik Jasarevic, a spokesman for the WHO in Geneva, "People in the area are affected by direct fighting. There are less health services available. We know that in many districts, there are no doctors left, and only about half of health facilities are functional. Others are closed or functioning just partially."



Effects of Cholera

Cholera is a dangerous disease that causes acute diarrhea in people. Its symptoms include severe dehydration and muscle cramps. Generally, caused due to intake of contaminated food or water, this disease can lead to death if untreated.



With the current shortage of available beds and medical supplies in Yemen, patients are being treated outdoors. Children and adults can be seen seated under trees and on the road, with fluid bags connected to their arms with needles.

According to Dr. Meritxell Relano, UNICEF's representative in Yemen, "The cholera outbreak is making a bad situation for children drastically worse. Many of the children who have died from the disease were also acutely malnourished."

For treatment, oral re-hydration salts can replace lost fluids in cholera patients, whereas intravenous fluids and antibiotics are often used in severe cases. Zinc treatment also has been shown to help improve cholera symptoms in some children.

Actions being taken to save lives

The country is relying on external help to secure the medical supplies. Last month, a WHO-chartered aircraft delivered intravenous fluids and cholera kits to Yemen to treat about 10,000 patients.

Similarly, an aid flight from the United Arab Emirates carrying 50 tons of cholera treatments arrived in the southern city of Aden to help the victims.

Oral re-hydration stations have been set up in various parts of the country to combat the disease. However, the problem is greater than what current measures can solve. The country lacks basic sanitation facilities. Preventing cholera is reliant on having access to clean water, adequate sanitation and basic hygiene needs, from bathrooms and latrines to soap and water. Yet in war-torn Yemen, about 14.5 million people lack consistent access to clean water and sanitation, according to the WHO.

Similar outbreaks have also been observed in other parts of the world like Africa and south-east Asia. While the disease can be prevented through the establishment of clean water centers and treatment plants, there still exists severe hygiene issues in many countries.

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WHO reported an increase in the number of suspected cholera cases to 101,820.
Photo Credit: iStock

lso read this article on Cholera.

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