Yemen: Over 400 suspected diptheria cases reported January 4

Event

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 471 suspected cases of diptheria - including 46 of which were fatal - had been reported as of January 4. According to health officials, among the areas most affected by the ongoing outbreak are Ibb and Al-Hodeidah provinces. Humanitarian organizations have expressed concerns that low vaccination rates, lack of access to medical care, and the large number of displaced people in the country due to the ongoing civil war may facilitate the further spread of the diptheria outbreak, potentially causing an epidemic in the coming weeks and months.

Context

The collapse of Yemen's infrastructure amid the ongoing war between the Saudi-backed government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Houthi rebels has created what the WHO has called a "perfect storm" for diseases. Several UN agencies have declared the ongoing crisis in Yemen to be the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world."

Yemen has been engaged in a complex and deadly conflict since Houthi rebels started fighting the international coalition-backed government in 2015. Approximately 20.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and the crisis has placed an overwhelming strain on the country's struggling health system. Major health facilities have been destroyed in the conflict and aid deliveries are often blocked by rebels, stolen, or destroyed. Yemen is also affected by widespread famine. Approximately 18 million people - two-thirds of the population of Yemen - are food insecure, according to the World Food Program. Human rights organization CARE reports that millions of people in Yemen are without regular access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

Advice

Individuals are advised to defer all travel to Yemen until further notice. Those in Yemen are strongly advised to get diphtheria and cholera vaccinations. It is also advised to stock up on food and bottled water, and conserve water as much as possible. The security environment throughout the country remains complex, and due to poor security conditions, most Western governments strongly advise their citizens against all travel to Yemen. Travel to the country should only be considered with proper security protocols in place, and professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.