Lebanon Cholera Outbreak Situation Report No 8, 18 January 2023

Epidemiological Overview

The outbreak has spread across the 8 governorates of Lebanon (20 out of the 26 districts). As of 17 January, a total of 6,158 cholera suspected and confirmed cases have been reported along with a total of 23 associated deaths, resulting in a case fatality ratio of 0.37 per cent. The cholera attack rate has significantly decreased in recent weeks with most cases since the start of 2023 reported from Bekaa, and to a lesser extent from Akkar, and Mount Lebanon. No new deaths have been registered since 9 December 2022. 48 per cent of suspected and confirmed cases are less than 15 years of age, 14 per cent are between 15 and 24 years of age, 20 per cent are between 25 to 44 years of age, 11 per cent are between 45-64 and 6 per cent are aged 65 years and older. Females continue to represent 53 per cent of the cases.
Overall, 19 per cent of suspected and confirmed cases have required hospitalization. Across the country, less than 10 cholera-dedicated beds are currently occupied.

As of 11 January 2022, 1,279 suspected samples of stool and water sewage were sent to the AUB-WHO collaborating center and the Rafik Hariri University Hospital Reference laboratory. Out of these samples, 451 stool and water sewage samples tested positive for cholera Serotype Vibrio Cholerae O1 El-Tor Ogawa was identified as the currently circulating cholera strain in Lebanon, similar to the one circulating in the region.