Lebanese health authorities on Saturday launched a vaccination campaign against a cholera outbreak in the country.

The campaign targets the northern provinces of Aakkar, Bekaa, Baalbek and Hermel, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

The statement said the three-week campaign aims to vaccinate 70% of the targeted groups in the four provinces.

Lebanon has reported 521 cholera infections, including 18 deaths.

On Thursday, Lebanese health authorities received 600,000 doses of cholera vaccine, provided by the World Health Organization and UNICEF.