The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other global agencies have launched the first oral cholera vaccination campaign in Yemen, aiming to reach millions of people, AFP reported Monday (May 7th).
More than 2,200 people have died of the waterborne infection over the past year in Yemen, with another one million suspected cases across the country.
The first phase of the oral campaign targets more than 350,000 people in the southern province of Aden, according to a joint announcement by WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank and the vaccine alliance Gavi.
Enough doses had been procured to cover all areas at risk in Yemen, WHO said, but talks were still under way with authorities across the country.
WHO is still negotiating with authorities in north Yemen and Sanaa, both controlled by the Houthis (Ansarallah), to extend the campaign across the country.
