Search
Search

CHOLERA OUTBREAK

Abiad says half of the vaccinated are Lebanese

Abiad says half of the vaccinated are Lebanese

Two-month-old Abdallah, who has cholera, with his mother at Dr. Abdullah al-Rassi Government Hospital in Halba. (Credit: João Sousa/L'Orient Today)

BEIRUT — Caretaker Health Minister Firass Abiad announced Friday that half of those vaccinated against cholera thus far are Lebanese, followed by Syrian and Palestinian nationals as the country struggles with its first cholera outbreak since 1993.

In a press conference, Abiad said that those vaccinated are "53 percent female and 47 percent male and that the majority of the vaccinated are aged between 5 and 14."

The total number of vaccinated people on Friday reached around 190,000 according to Abiad, "which is greater than the number that was supposed to be reached in this phase, according to the national plan for vaccination." 

On Saturday, the Health Ministry launched a three-week campaign aimed at vaccinating approximately 600,000 people. 

Abiad also said that the Health Ministry, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), demanded an additional 1.5 million vaccines "with the aim of adding protection to the society and to prepare for a safe holiday season."

The Ministry already received 600,000 vaccines donated by the WHO.

"Even if the cholera outbreak is under control, it is highly transmissible and highly contagious, and the Akkar scenario could repeat itself if high numbers of infected people were recorded," the Caretaker Health Minister added. "So it is very important to receive the vaccine even in places that are considered safe."

Lebanon's cholera outbreak started at a refugee camp near Akkar and is likely linked to the cholera outbreak in neighboring Syria.

BEIRUT — Caretaker Health Minister Firass Abiad announced Friday that half of those vaccinated against cholera thus far are Lebanese, followed by Syrian and Palestinian nationals as the country struggles with its first cholera outbreak since 1993.In a press conference, Abiad said that those vaccinated are "53 percent female and 47 percent male and that the majority of the vaccinated are aged...