Yemen suspected cholera cases triple, WHO says

Yemen's suspected cholera cases tripled over three weeks, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, Oct. 13, warning that hospitals already treating war casualties were under growing pressure.

The WHO said suspected cases rose from 217 in the week of September 6-12 to 647 in the week of September 27-October 3. It said Yemen has reported 8,034 suspected cases and 27 deaths this year, with a quarter of the suspected cases occurring in the last four weeks.

The UN health agency said conflict, mass displacement, overcrowding, poor access to safe water and disrupted health services were increasing the risk of outbreaks of cholera, measles and other preventable diseases.

Annette Heinzelmann, the WHO's emergency director for the region, said families fleeing conflict were facing diseases that can be prevented and treated. She said urgent funding and access to safe water, vaccination and essential health services were needed to prevent outbreaks spreading among vulnerable communities.

The International Organization for Migration said Monday that more than 217,000 people had fled their homes in Yemen since fighting escalated.

The WHO said it had secured $3.78 million of the $31 million needed for its 90-day emergency response in Yemen, including disease surveillance in displacement sites, rapid response teams, cholera treatment and infection prevention in health facilities.