Cholera: An Overview with Reference to the Syrian Outbreak.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Cholera remains endemic in 69 countries, causing 2.86 million cases and 95,000 deaths annually.
• Poor sanitation and lack of clean water exacerbate cholera's spread, particularly in conflict-affected regions like Syria.
• The Syrian cholera outbreak, exacerbated by conflict and a recent earthquake, highlights the vulnerability of health systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of cholera, including its bacteriology, pathogenesis, and clinical aspects.
• To analyze the epidemiology of cholera in the context of global climate change and the Syrian outbreak.
• To discuss current management and prevention strategies for cholera.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of cholera bacteriology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, management, and prevention.
• Analysis of data from the ongoing cholera outbreak in Syria.
• Consideration of the impact of global climate change on cholera outbreaks.

Main Results:

• Cholera affects 2.86 million people annually, with significant mortality.
• The Syrian outbreak reported over 132,000 suspected cases and 104 deaths between August 2022 and May 2023.
• Climate change is increasingly linked to large-scale cholera outbreaks worldwide.

Conclusions:

• Cholera poses a significant global public health threat, intensified by climate change and humanitarian crises.
• Urgent attention and intervention are required to manage and prevent cholera, especially in vulnerable populations.
• Effective cholera control necessitates improvements in infrastructure, sanitation, and access to clean water.