Tamanrasset, Algeria – Health officials in Tamanrasset have activated heightened surveillance measures to prevent the potential introduction of cholera, despite no cases being reported within the province to date. The move comes in response to the disease’s presence in neighboring countries.
Professor Elias Akhamoukh, head of the infectious diseases department at Tamanrasset Hospital, announced the increased vigilance during a press conference on Tuesday, outlining the current epidemiological situation and preventative measures being implemented. He emphasized that all doctors in the province have received specialized training to manage any potential cholera outbreak.
Professor Akhamoukh noted that Tamanrasset is a primary entry point for foreigners into Algeria, leading to a higher prevalence of malaria and diphtheria within the region. As a result, foreign nationals have been included in vaccination campaigns. From 2023 to 2025, approximately 33,000 foreign residents have been vaccinated against various infectious diseases, protecting both their health and the health of Algerian citizens.
Dr. Djamel Fourar, Director-General of Prevention and Health Promotion, highlighted the positive outcomes of the national vaccination program. He stated that “vaccination coverage rates against polio and diphtheria have reached high levels nationally, reflecting the success of the Ministry of Health’s preventative strategy to protect children and the community from serious infectious diseases.”
Dr. Fourar further revealed that between 2023 and 2024, 2,287,901 children across 19 southern provinces were vaccinated against polio. Additionally, 84,370 individuals in Skikda province received diphtheria vaccinations, along with 43,197 people in Ain Defla province as of November 11, 2025.
He concluded by emphasizing that ongoing monitoring and early disease detection efforts are being carried out by preventative medicine and epidemiological teams throughout the country.
