Idriss Mahjoub, head of the Kufra Health Emergency Room, has affirmed in an exclusive statement that no cholera cases have been recorded in Libya to date, stressing that the health situation in Kufra remains stable and under full control.
He refuted claims by some international organisations and the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggesting the possibility of unrecorded cholera cases in Libya. He asserted that any confirmed case would be announced immediately to alert citizens to take precautions and to secure international medical support.
Mahjoub also confirmed that all precautionary measures have been taken, primarily the Ministry of Health’s provision of large quantities of intravenous fluids specifically for cholera patients. Furthermore, dedicated facilities equipped with specialist medical teams have been established to receive any registered cases.
He clarified that the current medical resources are only sufficient to address a minor outbreak. Mahjoub cautioned that should a large number of cases emerge, the situation could become uncontrollable, as Kufra’s health system would be unable to cope with a widespread outbreak.
The head of the emergency room expressed concern about the potential for cholera cases to appear in Libya, given that Kufra daily receives a significant influx of Sudanese refugees, any of whom could be asymptomatic carriers of the disease.
This statement comes amid UN warnings about the potential spread of cholera from Sudan to neighbouring countries. Health sources recently reported one confirmed case and dozens of suspected cases in the Dougui refugee camp for Sudanese refugees, south of Adré, less than 200 kilometres from Libya’s southern border.
