The Lebanese Minister of Health in the caretaker government, Firas al-Abyad, sounded the alarm due to the wide spread of cholera cases in Lebanon.
The number of infections reached about 169 people within two weeks, especially among the Syrian refugees inside the camps.
Can cholera be cured?
Cholera is a bacterial disease that is spread mostly through contaminated water, causing diarrhea and severe dehydration: symptoms may worsen to the point of death if left untreated.
The spread of cholera in Lebanon began clearly in the governorates of the North and Beqaa, and then appeared in other areas, such as Zgharta, Zahle, Hawsh al-Omara, Qab Elias, Tamneen al-Tahta, and Shamra in the south.
Cholera in Syria
The World Health Organization announced an outbreak of cholera in ten Syrian governorates before spreading to other parts, warning that the situation could be catastrophic.
It added the European mission announced that more than 13,000 suspected cases of cholera had been recorded in 13 Syrian governorates by early October.
Initially, the cause of the cholera outbreak was linked to contaminated water near the Euphrates River, but the epidemic has now spread throughout the country, and infections have been recorded in both regime-controlled and opposition-controlled areas.
How to protect yourself from cholera?
According to the World Health Organization, cholera can also be spread by ingesting contaminated food or water, and may kill people within hours if they do not get immediate treatment.
Cholera is transmitted as a result of contact between infected people, as it leads to infection and further spread a patient does not sterilize their hands well; Therefore, it is advised to avoid contact.
What caused cholera in Kenya?
In a related context, the Kenyan Ministry of Health announced, on Wednesday, that a cholera epidemic broke out in six districts, including the capital, Nairobi, adding that the total number of cases recorded so far has reached about 60.
According to the Kenyan Ministry of Health, the origin of the epidemic was a wedding ceremony held in Kiambu County, about ten kilometers north of the capital, Nairobi, warning that the drought in the country, which reached an unprecedented level in 40 years, could lead to the exacerbation of the cholera epidemic.
