Cholera in Yemen

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and WHO, more than 19 million people-from a total population of 27·4 million-are in dire need of humanitarian aid and nearly 15 million do not have access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Al Mahwit governorate still had the highest attack rate (47·2 per 10 000 people), followed by Sana'a (43 per 10 000 people). Since late April, more than three-quarters of all districts have been affected, with a case-fatality rate of 0·9%. The government and organisations including UNICEF, WHO, and Oxfam are trying to address the humanitarian and health needs by importing drugs, equipment, and the WHO-approved Interagency Diarrhoeal Disease Kits for Health. According to WHO's logistics team, a further 13 tonnes of supplies are to be brought to Aden by ship by June 7, 2017. “With the seasonal rains, this has exacerbated the public health risks given the poor access to water, health facilities, sanitation and poor solid waste [management].” ” “There is also some evidence of increases in caseload of upper and lower respiratory tract infection; and huge difficulties in maintaining vaccination coverage”, said Sharif Ismail (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK).