21 March 2017 – The Ministry of Public Health and Population in Yemen has released updated figures for the ongoing outbreak of cholera. During the week of 6-12 March 2017, 88 new suspected cases of cholera and 2 deaths have been reported, mainly from Hajjah, Al Bayda and Sana’a governorates.

Since the start of the outbreak in October 2016, a cumulative total of 23506 suspected cases of cholera, including 108 associated deaths, have been reported across the country, with a case-fatality rate of 0.46%. Of the reported cases, Vibrio Cholerae 01 has been laboratory-confirmed in 198 stool samples collected from 15 governorates. One-third of all suspected AWD/cholera cases were children under 5 years of age.

The number of new cholera cases per week continues to decline in most districts and governorates, thanks to successful intervention efforts by the health cluster led by WHO in partnership with Ministry of Public Health and Population.

WHO has provided emergency medical supplies to hospitals handling cholera cases and has supported the rehabilitation and maintenance of 16 diarrhoea treatment centres (DTCs) in Sana’a city, Aden, Abyan, Raymah, Ta’izz, Al-Hudaydah, Ibb, Hajjah, Al Bayda, Dhamar, and Sana’a governorates. 

While cases are on the decline, new cases continue to occur due to poor access to health care services and limited ability of health workers to investigate new cases due to regional insecurities.