Lebanon declares end to cholera outbreak

By Stephanie Radi

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AA) – Lebanon on Sunday declared an end to the cholera outbreak in the country.

In a statement, the Lebanese Health Ministry said no new cholera infections were reported in Lebanon since February.

“The cholera outbreak in Lebanon has ended,” the ministry’s Health Emergency Program said in a statement.

Lebanese authorities have reported at least 23 cholera deaths and over 669 infections in the country up until last December.

Cholera is caused by ingesting bacteria found in contaminated water or food.

The first case of cholera was reported in Lebanon on Oct. 6, marking the first appearance of the disease in the country since 1993.

The Lebanese people are living in difficult conditions as the country's economy and currency have almost collapsed amid a shortage of many medicines.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi