The World Health Organisation (WHO), has announced the outbreak of cholera in 23 countries.
The Organisation on Friday warned that 20 more countries sharing land borders with the affected countries are at risk.Information Guide Nigeria
Speaking, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said this during the bloc’s online media conference.
Ghebreyesus said, “Cholera spreads through contaminated water, so clean water is needed urgently wherever there is an acute outbreak, to prevent transmission.”
He stated that WHO has strongly recommended that countries at risk of cholera outbreaks should scale up surveillance so cases can be identified and managed as quickly as possible.JAMB portal
THE GUARDIAN reports that WHO boss said that noted although there were effective vaccines for cholera, there are very limited.
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He revealed that the International Coordinating Group that manages the global cholera vaccine stockpile in 2022 suspended the standard two-dose regimen, recommending instead a single-dose approach to extend supply.
“In the meantime, we must rely on other measures to stop outbreaks and save lives,” he said.
Ghebreyesus said that recently, there have been many reports of mammals, including minks, otters, foxes, and sea lions, being infected with H5N1 avian influenza.
He stated that the recent spillover of H5N1 to mammals needed to be monitored closely although H5N1 had spread widely in wild birds and poultry for 25 years.
At the moment, he said that WHO had assessed the risk to humans as low.
Ghebreyesus further stated: “But we cannot assume that will remain the case, and we must prepare for any change in the status quo.NYSC portal
“As always, people are advised not to touch or collect dead or sick wild animals, but to report to local authorities.
“WHO is working with national authorities and partners to monitor the situation closely, and to study cases of H5N1 infection in humans when they occur,” he said.
WHO’s global laboratory network, the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, identifies and monitors strains of circulating influenza viruses, and provides advice to countries on their risk to human health and available treatment or control measures.
WHO recommends countries strengthen surveillance in settings where humans and farmed or wild animals interact.
“WHO is also continuing to engage with manufacturers to make sure that if needed, supplies of vaccines and antivirals would be available for global use.JAMB Result
