Cholera Hot-Spot in Yemen

CDC recommends overseas travelers use Vaxchora™ for active immunization against cholera
Travel (Precision Vaccinations News)

The number of suspected cholera cases in Yemen continues to rise, reaching 101,820 people, with 791 deaths, as of June 7, 2017, reported the World Health Organization (WHO).

Yemen’s children under the age of 15 years account for 46% of the cholera cases.  Those over 60 years old represent 33% of fatalities.

Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the bacteria Vibrio cholerae. Although cholera is rare in the US, it can kill people quickly if not treated immediately.

"These cholera 'hot-spots' are the source of much of the country’s cholera transmission," said Dr Nevio Zagaria, the head of WHO’s office in Yemen.

"Stamp out cholera in these places and we can slow the spread of the disease and save lives. At the same time, we’re continuing to support early and proper treatment for the sick and conducting prevention activities across the country.”

The race to contain the cholera outbreak will not be won easily.

“The cholera outbreak is making a bad situation for children drastically worse. Many of the children who have died from the disease were also acutely malnourished”, said Dr Meritxell Relano, UNICEF’s Representative in Yemen.

UNICEF, WHO, along with their partners, are working on a war footing to respond to this latest outbreak. Nearly 3.5 million people across the country have been reached by disinfecting water tanker filling stations, chlorinating drinking water, restoration of water treatment plants, rehabilitation of water supply systems, providing household water treatments and distributing hygiene kits (soaps and washing powders).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends overseas travelers use Vaxchora™ for active immunization against cholera.

Vaxchora is a single-dose, live oral cholera vaccine that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2016 for prevention of cholera caused by serogroup O1.

Two other oral cholera vaccines, Dukoral and ShanChol, are available outside of the USA. These vaccines require two doses and can take weeks to confer protection according to the CDC.

The CDC Vaccine Price Lists posted on this website lists the private sector vaccine prices for general information.

 

Our Trust Standards: Medical Advisory Committee

Share