21 October 2019 - The Ministry of Public Health and Population of Yemen reported 16 827 suspected cases and 13 associated deaths during epidemiological week 40 (30 September – 06 October) of 2019. Fourteen percent of cases were severe. The cumulative total number of suspected cholera cases from 1 January 2018 to 6 October 2019 is 1 090 853, with 1460 associated deaths (CFR 0.13%). Children under five represent 25% of total suspected cases during 2019. The outbreak has affected 22 of 23 governorates and 310 of 333 districts in Yemen.

Suspected cholera cases started to be increasingly reported in week eight of 2019 and the trend continued until week 14 when the number of cases reached more than 29 500, the highest number of cases reported so far. Since then the number of suspected cases has been fluctuating over the past weeks, with the trend stabilizing at the country level starting week 38.

Governorates reporting the highest number of suspected cases of cholera during 2019 are Al Hudaydah (107 317), Amanat Al Asimah (96 492), Sana’a (88 215), Hajjah (66 231), Dhamar (58 449), Ibb (64 447) and Amran (43 610).

Of a total of 98 064 samples tested since January 2019 at the central public health laboratories, 4836 have been confirmed as cholera-positive by culture. During this period the governorates reporting the highest number of positive culture were Taizz (1274), Amanat Al Asimah (1337) and Sana’a (457).

WHO continues to provide leadership and support for activities with health authorities and partners to respond to this ongoing cholera outbreak including case management; surveillance and laboratory investigations; hotspot mapping and oral cholera vaccine (OCV) campaign planning; water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH); and risk communication.