A man receives treatment for cholera in Lebanon's northern Akkar governorate in October 2022. (Credit: João Sousa/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Lebanon on Saturday recorded five new cholera cases but no deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases and deaths to 600 and 20, respectively, the Health Ministry said in its daily report.
Meanwhile, 15,549 people were vaccinated against cholera in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of people vaccinated since the beginning of a three-week campaign on Nov. 12. to 391,666, the report added. The vaccination campaign aims to reach around 600,000 people in total.
Lebanon is suffering from its first cholera outbreak since 1993. The first case of the disease was detected on Oct. 5.
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.