OGUN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the resurgence of cholera disease a global threat following recent spike in cases and death recorded.
Recent data revealed that in several regions of the world, the disease is estimated to 195,000 cases and over 1,900 deaths reported in 24 countries since the start of this year.
The agency’s Eastern Mediterranean Region reported the highest number of cases, followed by the African Region, the region of the Americas, the Southeast Asia Region, and the European Region.
WHO, in a statement on Thursday, stated that there are no reported cases in the Western Region, according to its bulletin released on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
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The UN health agency said 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.”
Yet, the supply of the vaccine does not equate to its demand.
Since January last year, 16 countries have requested 92 million doses of OCV – almost double the 49 million produced during that time.
WHO, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners are working together to use resources to find long-term solutions for cholera.
On the positive side of health news, WHO announced on Thursday that Chad successfully eradicated “sleeping sickness” as a public health problem.
The agency applauded the government and people of Chad for eradicating the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis (also known as sleeping sickness).