Beirut, 16 December (Prensa Latina) The Minister of Public Health in the interim government, Firas Al-Abyad, today announced the second phase of the vaccination campaign against the cholera epidemic with the arrival of 900,000 vaccines in Lebanon.
In a meeting, health authorities highlighted compliance with the first phase of immunization by providing coverage to 80% of target people, in the national response to the outbreak of the disease since 1993.
Al-Abyad insisted on the need not to be complacent and neglect obtaining the vaccine given the low number of infections and acknowledged efforts to provide basic services related to drinking water supply and sanitation.
The headline emphasized the importance of cooperation with field teams to complete the second phase of the vaccine and increase the level of safety in society.
The Ministry’s intention is to cover 900,000 residents in 295 cities, as well as some refugee camps in the areas of Tripoli, Danniyeh and the remaining communities of Akkar and Baalbek.
On the occasion, Al-Abyad thanked the ability of the health system to deal with the epidemic, thanks to the collaboration of international and local partners, despite the worsening economic, financial and social crisis in the country.
The first phase of immunization involved the administration of 600,000 doses in four governorates (Akkar, Nord, Bekaa and Baalbek Hermel) and six districts of the national territory, in three weeks from 12 November.
The country confirmed its first case of cholera on Oct. 5 and has so far accumulated 661 confirmed patients, 23 deaths and 5,294 suspects.
The Cedar Nation is the latest phase of a devastating outbreak that began in Afghanistan in June and has since spread to Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Syria, the World Health Organization said.
