26 October 2017 – The Ministry of Public Health and Population of Yemen has reported a cumulative total of 862858 suspected cases of cholera including 2177 associated deaths as of 26 July for the outbreak which started in October 2016.
The overall case-fatality rate remains low (0.25%). There has been a modest decrease in the number of suspected cholera cases and deaths compared to previous weeks, and the overall trend appears to be stable.
While cholera is endemic in Yemen, the country has experienced a surge in cholera cases since April this year, 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 and other endemic infectious diseases.
WHO and health partners support the Ministry through the cholera task force to improve cholera response efforts at the national and local levels. This includes delivering 20 tonnes of medicines and intravenous (IV) fluids to Ibb governorate; the establishment of diarrhoea treatment facilities and 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, and enhancement of Yemen’s disease early warning surveillance systems.