Lebanon has recorded its first death from cholera since the resurgence of the disease began in early October and after a sharp rise in cases in neighboring Syria.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Health on Wednesday (October 12th), Lebanon recorded 26 people who contracted cholera in October, one of whom died.
The ministry did not specify the nationality of the dead person.
A water sanitation problem
On Tuesday, Health Minister Firas Abiad said "
the majority of patients are displaced Syrians
".
"
The absence of basic services, such as drinking water or a sewage system, in places where the displaced are, constitutes fertile ground for the spread of the epidemic in Lebanon
", he said. .
Lebanon says it is hosting 1.5 million Syrians who have fled their war-torn country.
Most live in poverty, and their living conditions have deteriorated with the serious economic crisis in Lebanon.
According to a report released Tuesday by the official agency, Syria has recorded 700 cases of cholera including 41 deaths since September.
Cholera, an acute diarrheal infection causing sometimes fatal dehydration, is contracted by the absorption of water or food products contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae.
It develops in areas that are often populated, with limited access to drinking water or without suitable sanitation networks.
