WHO and its partners intensified their efforts to curb the spread of a recent cholera outbreak in Lebanon, which led to 652 confirmed cases and 22 deaths in just two months – threatening to become endemic right when there was a global shortage of
cholera vaccines.
From the first confirmed case of cholera in northern Lebanon on 6th October 2022, to 6th December the same year, 652 confirmed cases and 22 deaths were reported across 20 of the country’s 26 districts.
WHO joined forces with its partners on the ground to establish a multisectoral national task force for cholera, under the leadership of the Ministry of Public Health. Multiple field missions were quickly conducted, engaging local authorities and communities
in the development of a response plan, which needed to consider Lebanon’s underlying challenges including poor water and sanitation infrastructure, the current economic crisis and limited availability of energy supplies.
Some 600,000 doses of cholera vaccine were made available immediately. A total of 2,400,000 doses have been approved by the International Coordination Group on Vaccine Provision. To date, 480,000 vaccinations have been given to refugees and host communities
in high-risk districts through a door-to-door campaign. The remaining 1.8 million doses will be delivered in batches from December 2022 onwards.
WHO and its partners have also provided clean water and adequate sanitation and hygiene, by monitoring water quality in affected districts. Early warning surveillance and laboratory capacities have also been strengthened. WHO procured more than 22,000
rapid diagnostic tests, to be distributed to hospitals and surveillance teams at field level. A total of 12 hospitals designated for cholera treatment have also been assessed with any gaps being filled.
More than 130 senior nurses and infectious disease specialists have been deployed to key referral hospitals in Tripoli and Akkar governorates, and multidisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses and infection prevention and control (IPC) officers will train
health care workers on IPC and case management.
Dr Abdinasir Abubakar, WHO Representative in Lebanon, said: “We need concerted efforts to ensure that people have access to health services, clean water and sanitation, and to educate them on how to deal with cholera if anyone becomes infected.”
A collective response has been crucial to ensure the outbreak is contained and to prevent cholera becoming endemic in the country.
