The cholera epidemic in the poorest country in the Middle East has already killed 2,000 people and is considered to be the worst ever. Five thousand people become sick every day, and the total number of cases has reached over 200,000. The information comes from the World Health Organization (WHO). The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) predicts that the number of Yemenites with cholera will exceed 600,000 by the end of 2018.

The indirect cause for this situation is the war between rival groups who have been fighting for power in Yemen since 2015. The Houthis, who are Shiites and are supported by Iran, are waging war against forces loyal to president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is a Sunni and backed by Saudi Arabia.

Though the armed conflict has not gained much visibility, people are without food, drinkable water, electricity, or sewage; entire cities have been destroyed, and 12,000 people have died.

HIGHLIGHTS

Cholera is transmitted through food and water that have been contaminated by the Vibrio cholerae bacteria. The bacteria attack the intestines, cause acute diarrhea, and can lead to death. In Brazil, the last outbreak of the epidemic took place in 1991. A vaccine is available, and prevention is straightforward: all you need to do is wash your hands with clean water, drink clean drinking water, and eat cooked or boiled food.

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Questions

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