In a hospital in Akkar, North Lebanon. Credit : Joao Sousa/L'Orient Today
BEIRUT — The World Health Organization warned Monday of a deadly cholera outbreak spreading rapidly across Lebanon as neighboring Syria also battles a resurgence of the disease.
Lebanon's first cholera outbreak since 1993 started earlier this month as the country struggles with a poor sanitation system and crumbling infrastructure after three years of an unprecedented economic crisis.
"WHO is warning of a deadly cholera outbreak in Lebanon where cases are increasing," said Abdinasir Abubakar, the WHO's representative in Lebanon. "The situation in Lebanon is fragile as the country is already struggling with other crises — compounded by prolonged political and economic deterioration," Abubakar added.
Since Oct. 5, at least 381 confirmed cases have been recorded in the country along with and 17 deaths.
Syria has also been affected by a cholera epidemic, which started in September, after more than a decade of war that has damaged nearly two-thirds of water treatment plants, half of pumping stations and one-third of water towers, according to the United Nations. The strain of cholera identified in Lebanon is "similar to the one circulating in Syria," the WHO said.
Most cholera cases in Lebanon are among Syrian refugees, Lebanese authorities said. About 2 million Syrians have taken refuge in Lebanon since civil war broke out in their home country in 2011. Many are living in squalid conditions.
Cholera is usually contracted from contaminated food or water and causes diarrhea and vomiting. It can be easily treated, but can kill within hours if left untreated, according to the WHO. Frequent and prolonged power outages across Lebanon have interrupted the work of water pumping stations and sewage systems.
The outbreak, which was initially confined to northern Lebanon, has "spread rapidly," with confirmed cases now reported throughout the country. This situation has prompted the WHO to assist Lebanon in obtaining 600,000 doses of the cholera vaccine. Efforts to obtain more doses are "ongoing in view of the rapid spread of the epidemic," WHO said.
Earlier today, Caretaker Health Minister Firass Abiad held a press conference during which he announced a donation of cholera vaccines from France to the Lebanese state. During Monday's press conference, Abiad assured that France's donated vaccines are a part of “a series of donations to the Lebanese Health system that has been suffering as a result of the crisis.” He stated that France has previously supported the Rafic Hariri Hospital, Karantina Hospital, and the Tripoli Governmental Hospital by donating medical equipment, supporting laboratories, and the blood banks of those hospitals, as well as supporting other hospitals across the country. Abiad also warned, as he had already done Sunday, that cholera could become an "endemic" disease in Lebanon if the ministry, backed by medical staff, fails to curb its spread.
An endemic disease is a disease that is consistently present in a certain area or region, where the number of patients and the extent of the spread can be predicted. "This would have an impact not only on the health sector, but also on agriculture, and some countries might stop importing products from Lebanon," Abiad added.
'Public health at stake'
Speaking at the conference, France's ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo hoped the donation would help contain the epidemic, saying that her country "once again stands by Lebanon.’’
She said the delivery comprised more than 13,000 doses donated by France to protect "Lebanese front-line health workers," while urging Lebanese authorities to address the outbreak's causes.
"The origins of this epidemic, in which public health is at stake, must also be treated," Grillo told reporters.
The outbreak is "a new and worrying illustration of the critical decline in public provision of access to water and sanitary services in Lebanon," she added.
In a tweet, the French Embassy said the vaccine donation is complemented by a prevention and water treatment project in Tripoli and stressed "the urgency of reforms for an efficient and universally accessible health system and water access and treatment."
On Sunday, Abiad said that "we must all help each other to stop the epidemic," arguing that the country "has a golden opportunity, as the epidemic is still in its infancy and can be stopped."
Local and international actors have collaborated to provide fuel to power water infrastructure, established field hospitals, train frontline workers and organize awareness-raising campaigns.