Q. Why is this in News?
A. African countries are facing Cholera vaccine shortage, that is a looming threat amid increasing cholera cases in the region.
- Since the beginning of 2023, there have been 27,300 new cases of cholera including 687 deaths in five African countries.
- The WHO (World Health Organization) has said Climate Change could make cholera epidemics more common, as the bacteria that causes the disease can reproduce more quickly in warmer water.
Q. What is Cholera?
A.
- About:
- It is a life-threatening infectious disease and a public health hazard.
- Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
- The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes can be severe.
- Symptoms:
- Profuse watery diarrhoea, Vomiting, Leg cramps
- Transmission:
- A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium.
- The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water.
- Vaccine:
- Currently there are three WHO pre-qualified Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV), Dukoral, Shanchol, and Euvichol-Plus.
- All three vaccines require two doses for full protection.
Q. What are the Initiatives to Curb Cholera?
A.
- A global strategy on cholera control, Ending Cholera: a global roadmap to 2030, with a target to reduce cholera deaths by 90% was launched in 2017.
- Global Task Force for Cholera Control (GTFCC): WHO revitalized the Global Task Force for Cholera Control (GTFCC) to strengthen WHO’s work in eradicating cholera.
- The purpose of the GTFCC is to support increased implementation of evidence-based strategies to control cholera.
