The International Coordination Group (ICG), which includes members of the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEFMédecins Sans Frontières, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Unprecedented Outbreak
Shifting to a single-dose approach will help conserve stocks, allowing an oral vaccine against potentially fatal waterborne disease in more countries, amid an “unprecedented” increase in outbreaksspeak WHO in a press release.
As of January this year, 29 countries have reported cases of cholera, including Haiti, Malawi and Syria, which are facing a severe increase. Meanwhile, in the previous five years, fewer than 20 countries on average reported outbreaks.
“The global trend is towards more, more widely and more severe outbreaks, due to floods, droughts, conflicts, population displacement and other factors limit access to clean water and increase the risk of cholera outbreaks,” said the United Nations health agency.
Proven effectiveness
Although two is optimal, the one dose strategy has been shown to be effective in responding to outbreaks, although evidence for the exact duration of protection is limited.The WHO says protection appears to be much lower in children.
Immunity against infection lasts for three years in a two-dose regimen, where the second dose is administered within six months of the first dose.
“The benefits of single-dose delivery still outweigh no doses: although a temporary disruption of the two-dose strategy will lead to a reduction and shortening of immunity, tHis decision will allow more people to be immunized and provide protection for them in the near futureif the global cholera situation continues to worsen,” said WHO.
‘Extremely limited’ supply
According to WHO, the current supply of cholera vaccine is very limited and must be coordinated by the ICG, the agency that manages the global stockpile.
Of the total 36 million doses forecast to be produced by 2022, 24 million have been shipped for prevention (17%) and response campaigns (83%), and eight million additional doses have been delivered by the ICG. approval for a second round of immunization emergencies in four countries, illustrating severe vaccine shortages.
With vaccine manufacturers currently producing at full capacity, there is no short-term solution to increasing production, the agency said.
“To reduce the problem in the long run, Urgent action is needed to increase global vaccine production” said WHO.
The ICG will continue to monitor global epidemiological trends and will review this decision regularly.
UNHCRThe United Nations Refugee Agency is concerned about a cholera outbreak in the Minawao refugee camp in the Far North Region of Cameroon. Three people have died and 39 cases have been identified in the camp.
Refugees in Cameroon fight cholera: UNHCR
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Wednesday it was deeply saddened by the deaths of three refugees in the Minawao campCameroon, cured of cholera.
“My sincere condolences to the bereaved,” said Olivier Beer, UNHCR Country Representative. UNHCR is working with the Government of Cameroon, United Nations agencies and other partners to ensure urgent care for those who are sick and to break the chain of transmission.
To help contain the outbreak, UNHCR and partners are training transition communities on how to identify and reporting suspected cases, closely monitoring contacts, as well as disinfecting the homes of suspected cases and public spaces in the camp.
Efforts are also underway to urgently strengthen existing awareness campaigns about cholera and good hygiene practices in the camp.
A first cholera alert was issued by UNHCR’s medical partner in Minawao, the International Medical Corps, IMC, after rapid diagnostic tests on specimens collected from one patient showed results. tested positive on October 15.
As of October 18, 24 of the 39 patients are being treated at medical facilities in Minawao. According to the medical staff handling the case, the patient in serious but stable condition. Twelve people have recovered and returned home.
