The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a rise in cholera in several regions of the world, with almost 195,000 cases and over 1,900 deaths reported in 24 countries since the start of this year.
The greatest number of cholera eracases was recorded by the agency in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, which was followed by the African, American, Southeast Asian, and European regions.
According to WHO’s bulletin issued on Wednesday, there are no cases reported in the Western Region, the organisation said in a statement on Thursday.
The UN health agency mentioned that it exhausted its global stockpile of oral cholera vaccines (OCV) by March but was able to exceed “the emergency target of five million doses in early June for the first time in 2024.”
However, there is a mismatch between the vaccine’s supply and demand.
According to WHO data, 16 nations have sought 92 million OCV doses since January of last year, about twice as many as have been generated during that same period.
In order to discover lasting cholera solutions, WHO, UNICEF, and other partners are collaborating to pool resources. On the plus side, the World Health Organisation said on Thursday that Chad has effectively eliminated “sleeping sickness” as a public health issue.
The organisation praised the Chadian government and people for eliminating the human African trypanosomiasis (often called sleeping sickness) in the gambiense type.
“I congratulate the government and the people of Chad for this achievement.
“It is great to see Chad join the growing group of countries that have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease (NTD),” Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said.
Chad became one of just 50 people worldwide who had been successful in curing the condition.
Ghebreyesus continued, “The 100-country target is nearer and within reach,” alluding to the goal outlined in the road map for tackling neglected tropical diseases by 2030.
Initially presenting with flu-like symptoms, sleeping sickness can also cause confusion, altered conduct, disruptions in sleep patterns, or even a coma, which frequently results in death.
The enhanced availability of early diagnosis and treatment, along with surveillance and response capabilities, has demonstrated that nations can manage and ultimately eradicate the spread of the disease.
