India Extends Aid to Zambia Amid Cholera Outbreak

• 19 Feb 2024

Source: TH

India has stepped in to provide medical and material assistance to Zambia, grappling with a cholera outbreak.

• India dispatched water purification supplies, chlorine tablets, and oral rehydration solution (ORS) sachets to Zambia.
• Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
  • It remains a global threat to public health and an indicator of inequity and lack of social development.
  • Researchers have estimated that each year there are 1.3 to 4.0 million cases of cholera and 21,000 to 143,000 deaths worldwide due to cholera.
• Most of those infected have no or mild symptoms and can be successfully treated with ORS.
  • Currently there are three World Health Organization (WHO) pre-qualified oral cholera vaccines (OCV): Dukoral, Shanchol, and Euvichol. All three vaccines require two doses for full protection.

Read more: Cholera, India's Vaccine Diplomacy