Geneva: In a stern warning delivered with circumspection, the World Health Organization (WHO) cautioned against the widespread outbreak of cholera across multiple regions of the world, particularly in Africa and Asia, despite the disease being treatable. On Friday, WHO unveiled a sharp increase in cases this year, with more than 409,000 infections and nearly 4,700 deaths recorded as of Aug. 17, across 31 countries.
According to Qatar News Agency, the spread of cholera is accelerating due to complex factors, chiefly armed conflicts and the resulting mass displacement, in addition to poverty, natural disasters, and severe climate changes, which particularly affect rural areas and communities lacking adequate health infrastructure. Absence of safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation systems, and limited access to medical care are all factors that contribute to delayed treatment and increased mortality, the statement read.
Notwithstanding a recorded 20% decline in the number of cholera cases compared to the same period last year, the number of deaths has surged by 46%, a trend described by WHO as a disturbing indicator, particularly as the case fatality rate has exceeded the 1% threshold in six countries, exposing serious gaps in health system responsiveness and the capacity to manage critical cases in a timely manner. The highest mortality rates were recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad, at 7.7% and 6.8%, respectively, while Sudan ranked as the third most affected African country globally, with UNICEF documenting over 2,400 deaths over the past year, spread across 17 of the country's 18 states, WHO outlined.
Within the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, the organization emphasized that cholera continues to pose a real public health threat, with 14 out of 22 countries in the region experiencing outbreaks over the past decade, most at epidemic levels. It highlighted that weak health surveillance systems and limited access to conflict-ravaged areas impede authorities' ability to accurately gauge the true scale of outbreaks, despite estimates suggesting that annual cases could reach approximately 188,000 in many of these countries.
Despite the unwavering efforts to contain the disease, WHO emphasizes that effective prevention and control of cholera primarily hinge on improving public health conditions, notably through the provision of safe drinking water, adequate sanitation networks, and the reinforcement of hygiene measures. Accordingly, oral cholera vaccines represent a promising tool to mitigate the risk of outbreaks, particularly in areas where conventional interventions cannot be deployed swiftly due to conflicts or environmental disasters.
According to medical reports issued by WHO, cholera is classified as an infectious disease that causes severe diarrhea due to the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. The disease affects both children and adults and can result in death within hours if not treated appropriately. WHO estimates indicate that annually there are between 3 to 5 million cholera cases worldwide, alongside approximately 100,000 to 120,000 deaths.
The disease is characterized by a short incubation period, ranging from two to five days, rendering it highly transmissible and prone to explosive outbreaks. Although infection may pass asymptomatically in some individuals, roughly 80% of symptomatic cases experience mild to moderate symptoms, while approximately 20% develop severe acute watery diarrhea accompanied by extreme dehydration, which can be fatal without urgent medical intervention.
In connection to international response, WHO urges countries neighboring cholera-affected regions to bolster epidemiological surveillance systems and ensure early preparedness. This enables rapid detection of outbreaks and effective response, while raising awareness among travelers and local communities regarding the disease's risks, symptoms, preventive measures, and the critical importance of timely reporting and seeking treatment. The organization further emphasizes that routine testing, mandatory vaccinations, or quarantine measures at points of entry for travelers from cholera-affected areas are not advised. Similarly, prophylactic administration of antibiotics is not recommended for travelers either departing from or heading to affected regions.
WHO continues to support affected countries in implementing both urgent and long-term measures, in collaboration with international partners, to contain the disease. These interventions include strengthening surveillance systems, emergency outbreak responses, and improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. Preventive measures such as oral cholera vaccines (OCVs) are deployed strategically, complemented by robust community engagement to communicate risks and protective practices.
In addition, WHO continues to host the Secretariat of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC), an international alliance coordinating global efforts to support affected countries. This involves developing and executing comprehensive national cholera control plans aligned with the "Ending Cholera: A Global Roadmap to 2030", launched in 2017, which aims to reduce cholera deaths by 90% and eradicate the disease in at least 20 countries by 2030. Partners of GTFCC have established dedicated support mechanisms for countries affected by cholera outbreaks, including the "Country Support Platform" hosted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. This platform provides multi-sectoral technical and operational support, guidance on advocacy, coordination, and policy development, with the objective of designing, funding, implementing, and monitoring national cholera control action plans.
Despite the sustained efforts of WHO and UNICEF through vaccination campaigns, rehydration therapy, and provision of safe drinking water, achieving the full elimination of cholera by 2030 depends not only on medical capacity or financing but also on addressing deeper structural determinants. These include ending armed conflicts, mitigating the impacts of climate change in high-risk areas, and strengthening healthcare access, thereby laying the foundation for sustainable cholera control globally.