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LUSAKA. – The World Health Organisation (WHO) has agreed to give Zambia more oral cholera vaccines to help the country tackle the waterborne disease outbreak, Health Minister Sylvia Masebo said yesterday.

The WHO has approved Zambia’s request for an additional 1.9 million doses of oral cholera vaccine, the minister said.

The vaccine, once received, will target cholera hotspot districts outside Lusaka, the country’s capital, Masebo said.

“Currently, the cholera vaccine stockpile is fully depleted, but based on the production forecast, the first batch of these supplies should be ready by the end of this month, February 2024,” she told a press briefing.

However, she said, the ministry may adjust the priority areas if the epidemiological situation changes by the time the new vaccines arrive. A total of 1.8 million people were vaccinated in the hotspot districts. So far 17 930 cases and 635 deaths have been recorded.  – Xinhua