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Lebanon records one death and two new cholera cases

Lebanon records one death and two new cholera cases

A man receives treatment for cholera in Lebanon's northern Akkar governorate in October 2022. (Credit: João Sousa/L'Orient Today)

BEIRUT — Lebanon on Thursday recorded one new cholera death and two new cases in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total to 569 confirmed cases and 20 deaths, the Health Ministry said in its daily report published Thursday night.

The cholera outbreak — the country's first since 1993 — began on Oct. 5 when the first case was identified in northern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the number of hospital beds occupied by patients suffering from or suspected of having contracted the illness decreased, down to 55 from 73, according to the ministry's official report.

The vaccination campaign continues in targeted regions, including North Lebanon and the Bekaa. Some 36,482 vaccines were administered between Wednesday and Thursday, for a total of 165,600 doses since the campaign began Saturday.

The ministry also announced that the Lebanese Red Cross had set up a hotline, accessible at 1760, to offer information about the disease and assess potential contaminations.

Cholera is usually caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with the Vibrio cholerae bacteria, often present in feces. Infected people may suffer acute diarrhea, but the illness can also be asymptomatic.

BEIRUT — Lebanon on Thursday recorded one new cholera death and two new cases in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total to 569 confirmed cases and 20 deaths, the Health Ministry said in its daily report published Thursday night.The cholera outbreak — the country's first since 1993 — began on Oct. 5 when the first case was identified in northern Lebanon.Meanwhile, the number of hospital...