Sharjah 24 – AFP: The World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners have initiated the largest-ever deployment of cholera rapid diagnostic tests, starting with Malawi. Over 1.2 million tests will be distributed to 14 high-risk countries, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Syria, and Zambia, to bolster outbreak detection efforts.
Funded and coordinated by the Gavi vaccine alliance and procured by UNICEF, the programme aims to enhance routine surveillance and testing capacity to accelerate cholera outbreak responses. With cases doubling in 2022 and preliminary data suggesting over 700,000 cases in 2023, the initiative comes amid an unprecedented surge in cholera infections worldwide.
The surge in cases has strained the global supply of oral cholera vaccines, leading to delays in preventative vaccination campaigns. Improved surveillance diagnostics will enable targeted vaccine distribution, maximising their impact in saving lives in cholera hotspots.
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