An elderly person being vaccinated against cholera in North Lebanon. (Credit: João Sousa/L'Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT — Lebanon on Friday recorded 3 new cholera cases but no deaths in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 648 and the total number of deaths to 20, the Health Ministry announced in its daily report.
Meanwhile, 10,865 people were vaccinated against cholera on Friday, bringing the total number of those vaccinated since the beginning of a three-week campaign on Nov. 12. to 468,116, the report added.
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.