The specter of cholera in Libya and North Africa: natural disasters and anthropization threaten human health.
pdf

Keywords

Lybia;
Cholera;
Natural disaster
public health anthropization
environmental ethics
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, Mental Health, COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), in the last year cholera has re-emerged in various areas of the planet, particularly in Africa. The resurgence of this disease is closely linked to poor hygiene, which is sometimes the result of wars or environmental disasters, as in Lebanon and Syria since autumn 2022 and today in Libya.
Discussion
The spread of cholera is chiefly caused by the presence of contaminated water, in environments with inadequate hygiene and sanitation. Another cause, however, is the lack of access to adequate vaccination and treatment campaigns.
Method
In this short paper, the authors highlight the possibility of a resurgence of epidemic cholera in Libya, especially in light of the consequences of the devastating cyclone Daniel and the simultaneous collapse of two dams upstream of the city of Derna.
They also highlight the concern that cholera and other infectious diseases may also spread in Morocco, which was hit by a severe earthquake on 8 September last. The focus of the paper is the awareness that the spread of epidemic diseases is very often linked to human actions, which may trigger or exacerbate the effects of natural disasters.
Conclusion
Since these events have devastating effects both on the environment and on people and their psychophysical balance, it is evident that we need to devote greater attention to the health of the planet, to which the health and survival of the human species is strictly and inextricably linked. Indeed, disasters related to phenomena of anthropization facilitate the spread of infectious diseases, placing a heavy burden on local and global health organizations and the health of entire populations. A change of course is therefore essential, in that human actions must be aimed at limiting rather than aggravating the spread of diseases.

https://doi.org/10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2023.64.3.3102
pdf

References

La Libia e l’uragano Daniel, Wwf: la peggiore combinazione di crisi climatica e malgoverno del territorio, 14 settembre 2023. Available at: GreenReport.it https://greenreport.it/news/clima/la-libia-e-luragano-daniel-wwf-la-peggiore-combinazione-di-crisi-climatica-e-malgoverno-del-territorio/ (Accessed on: 16/09/2023).

Azman AS, Perez-Saez J. Choléra et climat: que savons-nous ? [Cholera and Climate: What do we know?]. Rev Med Suisse. 2023 May 3;19(825):845-848. French. doi: 10.53738/REVMED.2023.19.825.845.

Orsini D, Martini M. The insidious return of cholera in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Lebanon and Syria: a worrying signal! Past, present, and future forthcoming. J Prev Med Hyg. 2023 May 16;64(1):E27-E33. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2023.64.1.2910.

World Health Organization – WHO. Multi-country outbreak of cholera, External situation report #6 - 6 September 2023. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/multi-country-outbreak-of-cholera--external-situation-report--6---6-september-2023 (Accessed on: 16/09/2023).

Al Mandhari A, Hajjeh R, Abubakar A, Buliva E, Brennan R. Mitigating the resurgence of cholera in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. East Mediterr Health J. 2023 Jan 19;29(1):3-5. doi: 10.26719/2023.29.1.3.

World Health Organization – WHO. Multi-country outbreak of cholera, External situation report #6 - 6 September 2023. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/multi-country-outbreak-of-cholera--external-situation-report--6---6-september-2023 (Accessed on: 16/09/2023).

Mavhunga C. Cholera: World Health Organization warns of rising cases in Africa. BMJ. 2023 Mar 1;380:488. doi: 10.1136/bmj.p488.

World Health Organization – WHO. Multi-country outbreak of cholera, External situation report #6 - 6 September 2023. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/multi-country-outbreak-of-cholera--external-situation-report--6---6-september-2023 (Accessed on: 16/09/2023).

Charnley GEC, Kelman I, Murray KA. Drought-related cholera outbreaks in Africa and the implications for climate change: a narrative review. Pathog Glob Health. 2022 Feb;116(1):3-12. doi: 10.1080/20477724.2021.1981716.

Martini M, Orsini D. The fight against poliomyelitis through the history: past, present and hopes for the future. Albert Sabin's missing Nobel and his "gift to all the world's children". Vaccine. 2022 Nov 8;40(47):6802-6805. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.09.088.

Martini M, Orsini D. The ghost of polio haunts us once again. The appeal of the scientific community is clear: Vaccinate your kids today!”. Vaccine 2023; 41 (36): 5338-5341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.07.029.

Unicef. Libya: Tens of thousands of children at risk amidst violence and chaos of unrelenting conflict. 17 January 2020. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/libya-tens-thousands-children-risk-amidst-violence-and-chaos-unrelenting-conflict (Accessed on: 19/09/2023).

Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale - ISPI. Libia: la crisi idrica di cui nessuno parla. 29 gennaio 2020. Available at: https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/libia-la-crisi-idrica-di-cui-nessuno-parla-24964 (Accessed on: 19/09/2023).

Sikder M, Deshpande A, Hegde ST, Malembaka EB, Gallandat K, Reiner RC, Lessler J, Lee EC, Azman AS. Water, Sanitation, and Cholera in Sub-Saharan Africa. Environ Sci Technol. 2023 Jul 18;57(28):10185-10192. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01317.