The Yemeni cholera epidemic is accelerating to reach more than 10,000 cases a week, according to the WHO

GENEVA (Reuters) – The world's worst cholera epidemic in Yemen is picking up again: around 10,000 suspected cases are now reported every week, according to the latest data published by the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO).

This is twice the average of the first eight months of the year: 154,527 suspected cases of cholera – which can kill a child in a few hours without treatment – were recorded nationwide, with 196 deaths.

WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said 185,160 suspected cases of cholera had been reported in September.

Some 1.8 million Yemeni children suffer from malnutrition, making them more vulnerable to disease, said the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Of these, nearly 400,000 are at risk of severe acute malnutrition.

Since the outbreak of cholera in Yemen broke out in April 2017, a total of 1.2 million suspected cases have been reported and 2,515 deaths, said Jasarevic at a press conference. Children account for 30% of infections.

"We have seen an increase in the number of cholera cases in Yemen since June. This increase has been even greater in the last three weeks, "said Jasarevic.

In the first week of September, nearly 11,500 suspected cases were reported, compared with 9,425 the previous week, he said.

The charity Save the Children said that air strikes carried out by the Saudi-led coalition at the end of July had damaged a sanitation facility and a station. water supply supplying water to Hodeidah, a port city and ensuring the survival of the Houthi forces.

"After this incident, suspected cases of cholera nearly doubled between July (732) and August (1342) in Save the Children-supported health centers," he said.

The WHO reported that 16% of cholera cases in Yemen are in Hodeida, where only half of the health facilities are operational.

If it is detected early, acute diarrhea can be treated with oral hydration salts, but more severe cases require intravenous fluids and antibiotics.

The WHO administers vaccines targeting 540,000 people in three vulnerable districts of Hodeidah and Ibb governorates. In a first round, 387,000 people – 72% of those targeted – received a first dose, said Jasarevic, adding that the organization wanted to expand the program to other parts of Yemen.