A lab technician works on samples to test for cholera at a hospital in Syria's northern city of Aleppo on Sept. 11, 2022. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Lebanon recorded 51 new cholera cases over the last two days bringing the total to 220 confirmed cholera cases since the beginning of the outbreak while death count stood at 5, the Health Ministry announced on Thursday evening.
Following a meeting with President Michel Aoun on Friday, caretaker Health Minister Firas Abiad announced from Baabda that Lebanon has been promised a dose of cholera vaccine to be dispensed to it within 10 days, without specifying the source of the vaccine.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Abiad cast concern over the cholera outbreak in Lebanon, noting a "rapid spread of the disease," and adding that despite the fact that the majority of the cases have been "among the [Syrian] refugees," there has been "an increase in the cases among the Lebanese."
The minister indicated that upon a closer investigation, most of the death cases seem to be attributed to the fact that the patients did not receive medical care, inviting those who feel ill and those who suspect contracting cholera to go to the hospital.
Abiad added that the ministry was able to detect contamination in a body of water that has been used to water crops in the north, noting that this has been aiding the water-borne disease to spread.
Abiad had inspected a water treatment plant in Tripoli on Oct. 9, during a visit, when he stressed the importance of securing a consistent power supply for the plant so that it can provide residents with water, "otherwise, citizens will have to search for other unsecured sources."