Lebanon has received its first batch of cholera vaccines as part of the international effort to help curb the spread of the life-threatening disease in the country, Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad announced Monday.

The 13,440 doses of Sanofi-produced vaccines, supported by the French government, would "play a key role in limiting the spread of cholera," Abiad was quoted by the National News Agency as saying.

The batch will be administered to frontline health workers across Lebanon, said French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo, adding her country will support Lebanon's effort with the World Health Organization (WHO) to get more doses in November.