Cholera cases, deaths surge globally, WHO reports

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published global cholera statistics for 2023, revealing a concerning increase in cases and deaths.

According to a statement released on Wednesday, the number of reported cholera cases rose by 13 per cent and deaths by 71 per cent in 2023 compared to the previous year.

WHO reported that over 4,000 people died in 2023 from a disease that is preventable and easily treatable.
The report states that: “Forty-five countries reported cases, an increase from 44 in 2022 and 35 in 2021. Notably, 38 per cent of reported cases were among children under five years old.”

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection spread through contaminated food and water, affecting communities with limited access to sanitation the most.

Reason

WHO attributed the rise in cholera outbreaks to conflict, climate change, inadequate safe water and sanitation, poverty, underdevelopment, and population displacement.

It said that the geographical distribution of cholera shifted significantly from 2022 to 2023, with a 32 per cent decrease in cases reported from the Middle East and Asia, and a 125 per cent increase in Africa.

The report noted: “Many African countries reported a high proportion of community deaths, indicating gaps in access to treatment. For the first time, multiple countries reported deaths from cholera that occurred outside of health facilities, known as ‘community deaths’.

“In five out of 13 reporting countries, more than a third of cholera deaths occurred in the community, highlighting serious gaps in access to treatment.”

WHO reported that Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Somalia continued to report large outbreaks, with Ethiopia, Haiti, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe adding to the tally in 2023.

It added: “Preliminary data shows that the global cholera crisis persists into 2024, with 22 countries currently reporting active outbreaks.

“In spite of a lower number of cases reported so far in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, the WHO has received reports of 342,800 cases and 2,400 deaths across all continents as of August 22.”

Increase demand for cholera materials.

WHO said the increased demand for cholera materials, such as oral cholera vaccines, diagnostic tests, and essential medications, continues to pose a challenge for disease control efforts globally.

It said to address the limited supplies, the International Coordinating Group had adopted a single-dose vaccination approach instead of the standard two-dose regimen.

The statement noted: “In spite of the low stockpile of oral cholera vaccines, a record 35 million doses were shipped in 2024, with the one-dose strategy in effect.

“WHO emphasises that safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene remain the only long-term and sustainable solutions to ending cholera outbreaks and preventing future ones,”

It said the organisation considered the current global risk from cholera as very high and was responding with urgency to reduce deaths and contain outbreaks.

It also said WHO has released 18 million dollars from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies for cholera response since 2022 and has appealed for $50 million to respond to cholera outbreaks in 2024, but this need remains unmet.