Preemptive vaccination prevented cholera epidemic in Rohingya camps: icddr,b
A vaccination campaign run at Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar between 2017 and 2018 prevented an outbreak of cholera in the area, said speakers at a seminar yesterday.
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) organised the programme in Cox's Bazar, to share its emergency healthcare response and preemptive oral cholera vaccination measures among forcibly-displaced Myanmar nationals.
Between October 2017 and December 2018, 2.2 million doses of oral cholera vaccine were given to Rohingyas and host community.
Earlier, icddr,b and Unicef jointly conducted a field assessment in Cox's Bazar in September 2017, and identified potential risks of a diarrhoeal disease outbreak and related mitigation initiatives required.
Dr ASG Faruque, senior scientist, NCSD at icddr,b, said the study found that sanitation facilities in the camps created an environment suitable for cholera outbreaks.
Dr Ashraful Islam Khan said the preemptive vaccination campaign has prevented a cholera epidemic, which was anticipated by the global public health community.
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