About 3,000 health workers vaccinated more than 306,000 people against cholera in Yemen as part of a six-day vaccination campaign from the World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund.
More than 164,000 children under age 15 were vaccinated as part of the campaign, which ended Oct. 5.
Yemen has reported more than 1.2 million suspected cholera cases and 2,515 deaths attributed to the disease since April 2017. Health workers administered most of the vaccines during a four-day "Days of Tranquility" period, in which UNICEF convinces all parties to temporarily cease hostilities to grant children access to healthcare.
"It is unacceptable for people to die from preventable diseases," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a press release. "We are grateful for the pause in fighting, which enabled us to complete the cholera vaccination campaign. Vaccination is one of many health services people need. Ultimately, peace is the only road to health."
More articles on clinical leadership and infection control:
More people intend to get flu shot than in 2016, survey finds
Despite overall reductions in healthcare-associated MRSA rates, racial disparities exist
Hospital sink traps may harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria, study finds