On Tuesday, WHO announced that 35,217 cases have been recorded since April 27 when the outbreak started. The number shows a 50-percent leap in cases compared to figures given by the organization last week.
On Friday, Nevio Zagaria, the WHO country representative for Yemen, reported that 242 people have been killed due to the outbreak, with about 23,500 other confirmed cases of the disease reported across the country in the past three weeks alone.
Cholera, which causes severe diarrhea and dehydration, is transmitted through contaminated drinking water and could prove fatal in up to 15 percent of untreated cases.
Earlier in the month, Yemen's Health Ministry declared a state of emergency in Sana'a in connection with the epidemic.
International organizations, including the United Nations and the Red Cross, say the Saudi-led war on Yemen and an embargo against the country may be responsible for the cholera epidemic. The Saudi aggression has taken a heavy toll on the poor country’s facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories.