Warning from Al-Abyad: Cholera Outbreak Will Be Dangerous!

Firas Al-Abyad, the Minister of Health in the caretaker government, confirmed that "failure to adhere to preventive measures and neglect of hygiene will undoubtedly contribute to the spread of cholera." He urged citizens not to be lenient with cholera, as its spread will be dangerous. In an interview with "Radio Nour," he emphasized that "there are significant responsibilities on other ministries, and there is a crucial role required from the Ministry of Energy to secure electricity for water pumping stations to provide clean water for citizens' homes so that citizens do not have to seek unreliable water sources." He added, "We promised the Minister of Energy this week that with the arrival of Iraqi fuel in Lebanon, we should feel an improvement in this matter," noting that "there is cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities to test water sources, as well as with the Ministry of Education to monitor efforts in schools, and with the Ministry of Agriculture to inspect crops, as in some areas, crops are being irrigated with sewage and contaminated water." He warned that "if cholera becomes endemic in Lebanon, this will significantly affect our agriculture, agricultural exports, and tourism." He stated, "On Saturday, vaccination campaigns will begin in the most susceptible areas in the north and Bekaa; we received 13,400 vaccines from France that have been used for healthcare workers on the front lines, and there are 600,000 for the first wave of vaccine distribution in these areas, and we are working to secure between 1.5 million and 1.8 million doses for the second phase."