Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Cholera is resurfacing in its deadliest form, fueled by climate change, World Health Organization (WHO) officials said, El Mundo reported on 6 October.

In the first nine months of this year, 27 countries reported outbreaks of cholera, according to WHO. At the same time, the average death rate this year is almost three times higher than in the past five years.

“Cholera thrives on poverty and conflict, but is currently being fueled by climate change. Extreme weather events such as floods, cyclones and droughts further reduce access to drinking water and create ideal conditions for the spread of cholera,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed out that while cholera can kill within hours, it can be prevented through vaccination and access to drinking water and sanitation. But with the growing number of outbreaks, vaccine supplies cannot keep up with demand.

An outbreak has begun in Haiti after more than three years without cholera cases. The UN Children’s Fund reports that 1.2 million children in Port-au-Prince are at risk of contracting cholera. “Families cannot buy soap to wash their hands, rubbish is not picked up on the streets, hospitals are closed or unable to function. All this turned Haiti into a cholera ticking time bomb. Now it has exploded,” said Bruno Maes, UNICEF representative in Haiti.