Cholera in Yemen

As of press time, a cholera epidemic in Yemen had grown to over 300,000 cases and caused more than 1,600 deaths since April 27, 2017. The number of cases reported in Yemen since April far surpassed the total number of cholera cases reported worldwide in all of 2015. It is estimated that there are 7,000 new cases of cholera each day in Yemen.

A bacterial disease that is transmitted through contaminated drinking water, cholera causes watery vomiting and diarrhea that can quickly lead to fatal dehydration if not managed. Most people who have access to proper treatment and fluid do survive.

Yemen has been involved in a civil war since March 2015. A Saudi-led coalition of Arab states has set up a naval blockade of the country that has limited the amount of humanitarian aid entering Yemen.