Cholera in Yemen (Update)
23 Feb 2017
The latest update
from WHO shows a total of 3130 new suspected cholera cases and 0 deaths were reported in Yemen for January 2017. The cumulative number of suspected cases of cholera reported since the start of the outbreak in October 2016 is 18 973 cases including 99 deaths with a case fatality rate of 0.5%. More than one-third of the cases were children under the age of five.
In 2016, the cumulative number of suspected cholera cases was 15 843 including 531 associated deaths, with a case fatality rate of 0.6%.
Advice for Travellers
Severe cholera is rare in travellers, mild cases may present as travellers' diarrhoea.
- All travellers should be given advice on maintaining good food, water and hand hygiene, see traveller's diarrhoea, safe eating and drinking and water purification.
- Travellers should be advised on basic steps in self - treating diarrhoea, particularly maintaining hydration.
When to consider vaccination
Vaccination should be considered under the following circumstances and is dependant on the individual risk assessment:
- Volunteers/aid workers/medical personnel in disaster relief situations where cholera outbreaks likely.
- Those travelling to work in slums/refugee camps, areas affected by natural disasters, or countries experiencing cholera outbreaks (see current notes on the country concerned).