The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a total of 194,897 deaths and 1,932 cases worldwide due to a cholera outbreak.
According to a statement from the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, these outbreaks occurred between January, 1 2024 and May, 26 2024.
Cases were documented in 24 countries spanning five WHO regions.
The Eastern Mediterranean Region reported the highest numbers, followed by the African region, region of the Americas, South-East Asia region and European region. No outbreaks were reported in the Western pacific region during this period.
“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.
“As of 10 June 2024, the stockpile has 6.2 million doses. However, demand for the 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.
“By March, the UN health agency said it exhausted its global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines OCV. Still, it was able to exceed the emergency target of five million doses in early June for the first time in 2024,”WHO said.
WHO reported that since January last year, 16 countries have requested 92 million doses of OCV, nearly double the 49 million doses produced during that period.
It indicated that it is collaborating with partners such as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to allocate resources towards finding sustainable solutions for cholera.
In January 2023, WHO classified the global resurgence of cholera as a grade three emergency, its highest internal emergency level.
Due to the increasing number of outbreaks and their spread across different regions, coupled with vaccine and resource shortages, WHO continues to assess the global risk level as very high, maintaining the classification of this event as a grade three emergency.
After decades of progress against cholera, cases are once again increasing, even in countries where the disease had been absent for years.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection spread through food and water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae bacteria, often from fecal matter. Prevention is possible with access to safe water and sanitation.
While cholera can be fatal within hours if untreated, prompt access to treatment saves lives.
Persistent triggers for cholera outbreaks, such as poverty and conflict are exacerbated by climate change and ongoing conflicts. Extreme climate events such as floods, cyclones, and droughts reduce access to clean water and create conditions favorable for cholera outbreaks.
In 2022, cholera cases were reported in 44 countries, marking a 25 percent increase compared to the 35 countries that reported cases in 2021. This trend persisted into 2023.
“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,” it added.
WHO has classified the current global risk from cholera as very high and is urgently responding to reduce fatalities and contain outbreaks worldwide.
In Nigeria, Kemi Ogunyemi Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, reported an increase in fatalities from the outbreak to 21, following the latest update which identified 350 suspected cases and 15 deaths.
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