A baby suffering from cholera hospitalized in Akkar, North Lebanon, on Oct. 25, 2022. (Credit: Joao Sousa/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Seven new cholera cases have been recorded in 24 hours in Lebanon by the Ministry of Health, according to a statement issued on Friday morning, bringing the total to 413 number of confirmed cases recorded since the reappearance of the disease — almost a month ago — for the first time since 1993.
Currently, 92 beds are occupied in the country's hospitals to treat patients suffering from the disease, or suspected of being so because of the symptoms presented.
No new deaths have been reported by the Ministry, while eighteen patients have already died from the disease since Oct. 5.
Cholera has reappeared in Lebanon following an outbreak in neighboring Syria, which has already recorded over 20,000 suspected cases and dozens of deaths. This epidemic comes at a time when the country — and its healthcare system — are already under severe economic and financial strain, with the state is struggling to maintain its infrastructure, especially already-lacking water and sewage systems.
More aid from donor countries
In this context of crisis, caretaker Health Minister Firass Abiad announced on Friday that Lebanon is expected to receive more aid from donor countries to help the country tackle the cholera outbreak, the minister said during a meeting chaired by caretaker Premier Najib Mikati.
Ambassadors to some countries and donor agencies, as well as caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi and Energy Minister Walid Fayad also attended the meeting focused on combating the cholera epidemic.
"There is aid that donor countries have committed to send to [Lebanon], and there is aid that will arrive successively," Abiad said. "Of course, this is the first meeting, and many ambassadors have asked to communicate first with their countries, then inform us of the measures they will take, whether directly to Lebanon or through international organizations," he added.
Abiad also said that the Health Ministry is focused on three issues: "supporting surveillance efforts," such as "conducting tests for cholera patients or water sources"; providing vaccines; and preparing field hospitals, keeping them on standby in case of "a higher acceleration in the cases' rates."
France has provided about 13,400 vaccines, Abiad stated, "and there are 600,000 vaccines that international organizations have helped us with, but we need higher numbers in order to have a broader coverage of all residents in Lebanon, both Lebanese and the displaced."
Concerning his assessment of the cholera epidemic, the health minister said, "The numbers are increasing, but we consider that there is still a golden opportunity if we move quickly to reduce the outbreak so that we do not move to a stage where cholera rises to high numbers in all Lebanese regions."