dpa
Geneva
Almost 52,000 cases of cholera were reported from 17 countries around the world in July, up 15 percent on the month, the World Health Organization reported in Geneva on Thursday.
Deaths were reported in 223 cases, 34 percent up on the month.
The bacterial infection in the small intestine spreads through food and water that has been contaminated, often by human faeces.
If left untreated, it can cause death within hours, particularly to children.
The Eastern Mediterranean Region recorded the highest numbers at around 43,500.
The region takes in 21 countries from Pakistan through Afghanistan and Iran up to Morocco and includes the Gaza Strip.
Up to the end of July, more than 307,000 cases were reported, compared with more than 700,000 last year.
There is often a delay in reporting, and the WHO believes that many cases go unreported.
“The cholera response continues to be affected by a critical shortage of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) as demand continues to outpace supply, with 105 million doses requested by 18 countries since January 2023, nearly double the 55 million doses produced in this period,” the WHO said.
It attributed the rise in cases to conflict, natural disasters and climate change, with displaced people encountering unhygienic conditions.
The sole vaccine producer is South Korea’s EuBiologicals, which has limited capacity and produces only to order and on payment.
This means that a limited stockpile is available, vaccine specialist Edina Amponsah-Dacosta told the online
publication The Conversation in March.
