Bahrain is cholera free: Health Ministry

Manama : Bahrain is free from cholera, Health Ministry confirmed yesterday, denying rumours spread recently over detecting some cases of the deadly disease in the Kingdom.

To clarify more, the ministry issued a statement yesterday, saying, “In response to social media reports on suspected cholera cases in Bahrain, Public Health Directorate in Health Ministry said there were no suspected cases of cholera in the Kingdom, following the announcement of cases of cholera in the Republic of Yemen recently.”

“The Kingdom of Bahrain has taken many measures to limit the disease in the country, notably issuing circulars to all health workers in governmental and private institutions in the Kingdom on the mechanisms of dealing with suspected cases of the disease coming from Yemen, as well as spreading awareness among travellers to this country to abide by preventive measures from the disease. Surveillance of cholera cases was promoted by Public Health Directorate staff in all health institutions and laboratories,” the statement read.

The ministry confirmed in its statement that “the concerned officials are closely following up the epidemiological situation in Yemen”.

“The ministry confirms that Bahrain remains free of suspected cases of cholera and reassures the public of the existence of a mechanism to limit the spread of the disease in the case of its appearance here, God forbid,” it added in the statement.

Cholera is a bacterial disease characterised by severe water-like diarrhoea that is transmitted by contaminated food or drinks. These cases increase in areas that mix or leak sewage into drinking water. 

The ministry stressed that any traveller to the affected countries should take precautions by using safe and clean water and clean food.