Zambia to Vaccinate 1 Million People Against Cholera With WHO Support

With WHO's support, Zambia plans to vaccinate 1 million people against cholera in the capital city.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced its support to Zambia in launching a vaccination campaign in the African country to help one million people against cholera.

The campaign was launched on Wednesday to vaccinate residents of Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia, against cholera.

Cholera - Causes - Pathogenicity - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - Prevention - FAQs
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine and is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

‘Two million doses of oral cholera vaccine from the global stockpile were delivered to the southern African country, enough to immunise one million people.’

Two million doses of oral cholera vaccine from the Gavi-funded global stockpile were delivered to the southern African country in January, enough to immunise one million people, Xinhua reported.

According to Zambia’s health authority, the campaign will bring the life-saving vaccine to the people who need it most.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated.

Typhoid and Paratyphoid Enteric Fevers�- Causes�
Typhoid and Paratyphoid Enteric Fevers are caused by bacteria called Salmonella typhi. Causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of Typhoid and Paratyphoid Enteric Fevers are discussed.

Since the start of the current outbreak in Zambia from early October 2017, the country’s health authority has reported a total of 2,672 cases, with Lusaka alone accounting for 2,558 cases. Of the 63 deaths countrywide, 58 were from Lusaka.

While sporadic cases of cholera are regular occurrences in Zambia during the five-month rainy season, the number of cases this year has exceeded the average annual caseload.

Health Effects of Global Warming/What is Global Warming?
Greenhouse effect causes excessive heat to build up in the earth’s atmosphere causing global warming and affects the environment and health.

The WHO is currently working with the Zambia National Public Health Institute to address the underlying causes of the cholera outbreak, including clean water provision, sanitation and health education on personal hygiene.

The agency is also helping authorities to track down cases, treat cholera patients and provide community health education.

Uganda�s Borders and Lakes Have High Risk of Cholera Outbreaks
The possibility of getting affected by cholera is alarmingly high near the lakes and border regions of Uganda than any other part of the nation.

The WHO recommends that vaccination against cholera be considered in emergencies and other high-risk scenarios, as planning is underway to vaccinate a further one million people living in known cholera hot spots across the country later this year.

Source-IANS