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Global Oral Cholera Vaccine Stockpile Empty, Says WHO

Geneva: There are no more oral cholera vaccines left in the global stockpile, the World Health Organization said Friday, with the shortage jeopardising work to stop the disease's spread.

Global vaccine production is operating at full capacity, but demand is outpacing supply, the UN health agency said in its monthly situation report.

"As of October 14, the global stockpile of oral cholera vaccine is depleted, with no remaining doses available," the WHO said.

"Although more doses are expected in the coming weeks, this shortage poses significant challenges to outbreak response efforts and hampers efforts to control the spread of the disease."

The WHO said that between September 1 and October 14, the International Coordinating Group on vaccine provision received requests for oral cholera vaccines from Bangladesh, Sudan, Niger, Ethiopia and Myanmar.

The requests amounted to a total of 8.4 million doses, but due to limited availability, only 7.6 million doses could be shipped.

- Deaths spiking -

The WHO said there had been 439,724 cholera cases and 3,432 deaths reported this year up to September 29.

"Although the number of cases in 2024 is 16 percent lower than last year, the 126 percent spike in deaths is deeply concerning," it said.

The WHO said the mortality increase might be partially down to where the outbreaks are located.

Those include conflict-affected areas where healthcare access has been severely compromised and areas hit by flooding.

Since last month's report, new cholera outbreaks have been reported in Niger (705 cases and 17 deaths) and Thailand (five cases with no deaths), pushing the total number of affected countries in 2024 to 30, said the WHO.

In September, 47,234 new cholera cases were reported from 14 countries.

And this month, a cholera case was detected in conflict-hit Lebanon, where the WHO warned the risk of it spreading was "very high" due to the deteriorating sanitation conditions for the large numbers of displaced people.

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae, often from faeces.

It causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting and muscle cramps.

Cholera can kill within hours when not treated, though it can be treated with simple oral rehydration, and antibiotics for more severe cases.

In April, the Gavi vaccine alliance and the UN children's agency UNICEF said South Korean firm EuBiologics was currently the only oral cholera vaccine supplier to the global stockpile, although other manufacturers were expected to have products available in the coming years.

7 Effective Tips To Avoid Cholera, Doctor Weighs In

Cholera is one of the infectious diseases which is primarily caused by contaminated water and food. Amidst this changing season, let's take a look at some of the effective tips shared by our doctor to keep cholera at bay.

Cholera is an infectious disease caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, primarily spread through contaminated water and food. It can lead to severe diarrhoea dehydration, and in extreme cases, death. However, cholera is preventable with proper hygiene, sanitation, and awareness. Dr Rituja Ugalmugle, Internal Medicine, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central shared a few effective tips to keep cholera at bay.

Here are key tips to help keep cholera at bay:

Ensure Safe Drinking Water

Always drink safe, clean water. Use boiled, filtered, or bottled water for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth. Avoid drinking untreated water from rivers, lakes, or taps in areas prone to cholera outbreaks. When boiling water is not possible, use water-purifying tablets or chlorine drops to disinfect water.

Practise Proper Hand Hygiene

Dr Rituja emphasises on maintaining proper hygiene. She advises to wash hands thoroughly with soap and clean water, especially before eating or preparing food, after using the toilet, and after handling waste. You can also use alcohol-based hand sanitiser, in the absence of soap and water.

Eat Freshly Cooked Food

Avoid raw or undercooked foods, particularly seafood, as they can harbour the cholera bacteria. Ensure that food is thoroughly cooked and consumed while hot. Wash fruits and vegetables with safe water before consuming, and peel them when possible.

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Maintain Clean Sanitation Practises

Dr Rituja highlights the proper disposal of human waste to prevent contamination of water sources. She suggests using latrines or toilets, and avoiding open defecation, especially near water sources. In areas without proper sanitation, use hygiene facilities that safely contain waste.

Avoid Street Food In Risk Areas

Street food is often prepared in unhygienic conditions, which increases the risk of contamination. If you're in an area prone to cholera outbreaks, avoid eating food from roadside vendors.

Educate The Community

Dr Rituja emphasises on raising awareness about cholera prevention through education can help reduce the spread of the disease. Encourage others to practise good hygiene and sanitation to protect themselves and the community.

Get Vaccinated

In cholera-endemic areas or during outbreaks, vaccination can provide protection. The oral cholera vaccine is available and recommended for people living in or travelling to high-risk areas. You are advised to reach out to the doctor before taking any vaccination.

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For more such stories, stay tuned to HerZindagi.

Image Courtsey: Freepik

Vaccination Campaign Against Cholera Begins In Sudan

KHARTOUM, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese Ministry of Health said Saturday that a vaccination campaign targeting more than 1.4 million people against cholera kicked off in eastern and northern parts of the country.

"A round of response to the ongoing outbreak of cholera was launched this (Saturday) morning in three states, including the River Nile (in northern Sudan), Kassala, and Gedaref (in eastern Sudan)," the ministry said in a statement.

The campaign aims to vaccinate 1,407,546 people aged one year and above and will continue until Thursday, it said.

"The campaign is one of the interventions to reduce the disease burden and the degree of risk, which limits both infections and deaths," Amal Mahmoud, a representative of the ministry's healthcare department, said in the statement.

Meanwhile, Ismail Al-Adani, director of the Expanded Program on Immunization at the ministry, said more doses of cholera vaccine will arrive on Oct. 24.

The ministry said on Oct. 5 that it had received 1.4 million doses of the cholera vaccine provided by the international organization GAVI, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Sudan has been ravaged by a deadly conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces starting in mid-April 2023. Since the outbreak of the conflict, epidemic diseases such as cholera, malaria, measles, and dengue fever have spread, leading to hundreds of deaths.

The Sudanese health ministry has so far reported 25,037 cases of cholera and 702 related deaths.

On Friday, UNICEF warned on social media platform X that 3.1 million people, including 500,000 children under 5, are at risk of cholera in Sudan.

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