Cholera in Somalia: Is the use of OCVs feasible

In 2011, Somalia reported 68,424 cases of acute watery diarrhea including 1,099 related deaths. Some cases were laboratory confirmed as Vibrio cholera 01 serotype Inaba. Majority of the cases [73%] were reported in the under 5 year age group. Of the total reported deaths, over 65% [713/1099] were also in the under 5 year age group. Given this situation in Somalia, considerations for the use of Oral Cholera Vaccines [OCVs] in one of the cholera endemic areas of Somalia are being discussed despite the operational and logistic challenges in organizing a mass vaccination campaign in a complex and humanitarian emergency situation