Geneva — The biggest cholera vaccine drive in history is under way in Africa aimed at reining in a spate of outbreaks across the continent, the UN and charity alliance Gavi said Monday. More than 2-million people will receive the oral cholera vaccine as part of five major campaigns in Malawi, Nigeria, South Sudan, Uganda and Zambia, Gavi said, adding that the campaigns should be complete by mid-June. "This is an unprecedented response to a spike in cholera outbreaks across Africa," Gavi chief Seth Berkley said in a statement. At least 12 regions or countries in sub-Saharan Africa are facing cholera outbreaks, according to Gavi and the World Health Organisation. According to the UN health agency, cholera infects 1.3-million to four million people every year and kills an estimated 21,000-143,000 — mainly in poor countries. Ongoing campaigns The ongoing campaigns in Africa are being implemented by the health ministries in the five countries, where thousands of cases of the disease hav...
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