Cholera: Over 190,000 cases, 1,932 deaths reported in 24 countries

By Blessing Chinagorom

The World Health Organization (WHO) has given the latest report on cholera, stating that from January to May 2024, a cumulative total of 194,897 cases and exact 1,932 deaths were reported from 24 countries across five WHO regions.

In a statement released by the World Agency recently, revealing that the Eastern Mediterranean Region recording the highest numbers, followed by the African Region, the Region of the Americas, the South-East Asia Region, and the European Region.

“No outbreaks were reported in the Western Pacific Region during this time”, adding that the global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) was depleted until early March but exceeded the emergency target of 5 million doses in early June for the first time in 2024.

WHO disclosed that as of 10 June 2024, the stockpile has 6.2 million doses. “However, demand for vaccine continues to outpace supply. Since January 2023, 92 million OCV doses were requested by 16 countries, nearly double the 49 million doses produced during this period.

WHO classified the global resurgence of cholera as a grade 3 emergency in January 2023, the highest internal level for emergencies.
Based on the number of outbreaks and their geographic expansion, alongside shortage of vaccines and other resources, the Agency continues to assess the risk at the global level as very high and the event remains classified as a grade 3 emergency.

After decades of progress against cholera, cases are again on the rise, even in countries that had not seen the disease in years.

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food, water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, often from faeces.
With safe water and sanitation, cholera can be prevented. It can kill within hours when not treated, but immediate access to treatment saves lives.

While the triggers for cholera outbreaks—like poverty and conflict are enduring, climate change and conflict are now compounding the problem and extreme climate events like floods, cyclones, droughts reduce access to clean water and create an ideal environment for cholera to thrive.

In 2022, 44 countries reported cholera cases, a 25% increase from the 35 countries that reported cases in 2021 while the recent outbreaks have also been more deadly, with case fatality rates being the highest recorded in over a decade.

This increase in outbreaks and cases is stretching the global capacity to respond. There is a shortage of cholera tools, including vaccines.

WHO considers the current global risk from cholera as very high and is responding with urgency to reduce deaths and contain outbreaks in countries around the world.