Yemi Olakitan
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared cholera outbreak in 23 nations and issued a warning that 20 other countries that share land borders with the affected countries are also at danger.
The WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, said this at the bloc’s online press conference.
According to Ghebreyesus, cholera poses a threat to more than one billion people worldwide.
Wherever there is an intense outbreak of cholera, clean water is urgently needed to avoid transmission, he said. “Cholera spreads through polluted water.”
He also states that WHO strongly advises countries at risk of cholera epidemics to increase surveillance so that patients can be found and treated as soon as feasible.
Although there were effective cholera vaccinations, the head of the WHO warned that there was a relatively small supply.
Ghebreyesus claims that in order to increase supplies, the International Coordinating Group which oversees the worldwide cholera vaccine stockpile stopped the traditional two-dose plan in 2022.
However, he added that increasing global vaccine production would be crucial in the medium to long term.
“We must rely on alternative methods in the interim to halt epidemics and save lives,” he said.
He claims that there have been numerous cases of H5N1 avian influenza infection in mammals during the previous few weeks, including minks, otters, foxes, and sea lions.
He stated that although the H5N1 virus has been widely disseminated in wild birds and poultry for 25 years, the current transmission to mammals needed to be cautiously watched.
However, Ghebreyesus revealed that the risk to humans was now rated as minimal by WHO.
Since the first H5N1 outbreak in 1996, he said, they have only occasionally and transiently observed human-to-human transmission of the virus.
“However, we must be ready for any change in the status quo and cannot assume that this will stay the case.
“As usual, it is urged that individuals report to local authorities rather than touching or collecting sick or deceased wild animals.
As cases of H5N1 infection in people arise, he added, “WHO is working with national authorities and partners to monitor the situation closely and to research them.”
The Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, a network of international laboratories operated by WHO, identifies and tracks the strains of influenza viruses that are currently in circulation and advises nations on the threats they pose to human health and the available treatments or preventative measures.
WHO advises nations to step up surveillance in areas where domesticated or wild animals coexist.
“WHO is also continuing to work with producers to ensure that supplies of vaccinations and antivirals would be accessible for use around the world in case they were required.
