29 June 2017 – The Ministry of Public Health and Population of Yemen has recorded a total of 39 688 suspected cholera cases and 183 associated deaths during the period 22 to 27 June 2017. A cumulative total of 224 989 suspected cases of cholera and 1416 associated deaths have been recorded as of 27 June during the outbreak which started in October 2016.
The overall case-fatality rate is 0.6% although it is higher in some areas and among certain age groups. While cholera is endemic in Yemen, the country has experienced a surge in cholera cases since 27 April 2017, with nearly 5000 cases reported per day. Ongoing conflict, destroyed health, water and sanitation infrastructure and malnutrition have caused the people to be more vulnerable to diseases, including cholera.
WHO and health partners are actively supporting the Ministry through a cholera task force to improve cholera response efforts at the national and local levels. This includes the establishment of diarrhoea treatment facilities, oral dehydration centres, training of health workers to manage cases, water purification in communities, deployment of rapid response team to manage cholera cases investigations and respond to the outbreak, enhancement of Yemen’s disease early warning surveillance systems, and provision of emergency medical supplies to treatment facilities.
