Whole of Syria Cholera Outbreak Situation Report no. 12 Issued 31 January 2023

Epidemiological Overview

Between 25 August and 21 January, 84,607 suspected cases have been reported from all 14 governorates, including 101 attributed deaths to date at a case fatality rate of 0.12%. While the reported number of suspected cholera cases in some areas has slightly decreased, the total number of reported cases has increased.

To date, 4,008 stool samples have been cultured, of which 933 have tested positive for Vibrio Cholera. The positivity rate is 23.27%. Further to that, a total of 4,517 samples were tested with rapid diagnostic tests, with 1,911 of them testing positive. The overall proportion of RDT-positive cases is 42.3%.

In week 3, 2023 a slight decrease of AWD cases (n= 2,750 cases) was observed by 2% compared with week 2 AWD cases, while in some areas of NWS (Idelb and north of Aleppo), there was an increase of cases in some of the sub-districts (Dana, Maarat Masrin, Idleb, Azaz, and Jarablous).

The slight decrease in GoS and NES is most likely due to a combination of measures such as effective response interventions, the OCV campaign, and the winter season, which normally results in a decrease in waterborne illness each year, as well as reduced environmental exposure in winter compared to the summer season when outdoor activities are more common.

In camps, a total of 7,313 suspected cases and 7 associated deaths have been reported from IDP camps in NES and NWS.

The most affected governorates to date are:

• Idleb (24,124 cases, 28.51%)
• Deir Ez-Zor (20,671 cases, 24.43%)
• Aleppo (19,438, 22.97%)
• Raqqa (16,366 cases, 19.34%)