Cholera in Lebanon: A new epidemic in an on-going endemic of weak infrastructure

On October 6, 2022, the WHO declared the start of a cholera outbreak in Lebanon, the first cholera outbreak since 1993. The aim of this review is to advance the evolution of the cholera epidemic in Lebanon and its underlying risk factors. Early during the outbreak, the majority of confirmed cases we...

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Main Authors: Nada M. Melhem, Mirna Bou Hamdan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Infection and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034125000942
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author Nada M. Melhem
Mirna Bou Hamdan
author_facet Nada M. Melhem
Mirna Bou Hamdan
author_sort Nada M. Melhem
collection DOAJ
description On October 6, 2022, the WHO declared the start of a cholera outbreak in Lebanon, the first cholera outbreak since 1993. The aim of this review is to advance the evolution of the cholera epidemic in Lebanon and its underlying risk factors. Early during the outbreak, the majority of confirmed cases were reported among displaced Syrian refugees living in suboptimal conditions; however, three weeks following the former, cholera spread nationwide. This spread was exacerbated by the decline in water treatment investments, lack of electric supply in water treatment plants and collapsing healthcare and economic infrastructures. Addressing the structural root causes is urgently needed in order to mitigate the re-emergence of cholera and other infectious diseases spreading among vulnerable populations and thus threatening national and regional health security.
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spelling doaj-art-54782c1e375140fd802cd63b32b579d52025-08-20T02:07:19ZengElsevierJournal of Infection and Public Health1876-03412025-06-0118610274510.1016/j.jiph.2025.102745Cholera in Lebanon: A new epidemic in an on-going endemic of weak infrastructureNada M. Melhem0Mirna Bou Hamdan1Correspondence to: Medical Laboratory Sciences Program, Division of Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, 317 Van Dyck, 11-0236 Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.; Medical Laboratory Sciences Program, Division of Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonMedical Laboratory Sciences Program, Division of Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonOn October 6, 2022, the WHO declared the start of a cholera outbreak in Lebanon, the first cholera outbreak since 1993. The aim of this review is to advance the evolution of the cholera epidemic in Lebanon and its underlying risk factors. Early during the outbreak, the majority of confirmed cases were reported among displaced Syrian refugees living in suboptimal conditions; however, three weeks following the former, cholera spread nationwide. This spread was exacerbated by the decline in water treatment investments, lack of electric supply in water treatment plants and collapsing healthcare and economic infrastructures. Addressing the structural root causes is urgently needed in order to mitigate the re-emergence of cholera and other infectious diseases spreading among vulnerable populations and thus threatening national and regional health security.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034125000942CholeraLebanonOutbreakVulnerable PopulationsResponse
spellingShingle Nada M. Melhem
Mirna Bou Hamdan
Cholera in Lebanon: A new epidemic in an on-going endemic of weak infrastructure
Journal of Infection and Public Health
Cholera
Lebanon
Outbreak
Vulnerable Populations
Response
title Cholera in Lebanon: A new epidemic in an on-going endemic of weak infrastructure
title_full Cholera in Lebanon: A new epidemic in an on-going endemic of weak infrastructure
title_fullStr Cholera in Lebanon: A new epidemic in an on-going endemic of weak infrastructure
title_full_unstemmed Cholera in Lebanon: A new epidemic in an on-going endemic of weak infrastructure
title_short Cholera in Lebanon: A new epidemic in an on-going endemic of weak infrastructure
title_sort cholera in lebanon a new epidemic in an on going endemic of weak infrastructure
topic Cholera
Lebanon
Outbreak
Vulnerable Populations
Response
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034125000942
work_keys_str_mv AT nadammelhem cholerainlebanonanewepidemicinanongoingendemicofweakinfrastructure
AT mirnabouhamdan cholerainlebanonanewepidemicinanongoingendemicofweakinfrastructure