Cholera in the WHO African Region: Weekly Regional Cholera Bulletin: 15 March 2023
The cholera outbreak in the WHO African Region continues to evolve, with 13 countries currently reporting cases. Overall, cholera case incidence and deaths in the region have continued to decline in the past six weeks. However, five countries (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, and Tanzania) observed an uptick in cases during the reporting week. In week 10 (6 to 13 March 2023), a total of 4110 suspected cholera cases were reported from 11 countries, reflecting a 15% decrease compared to 4382 cases recorded in week 9. Similarly, deaths decreased from 70 in week 9 to 64 in week 10, a modest decline of 8.7%. Between 1 January and 13 March 2023, 40 563 suspected cholera cases were reported from 13 countries, with 818 deaths (case fatality ratio [CFR] = 2.0%). Malawi accounts for 57.5% (23308) of all reported cases in 2023, followed by Mozambique with 15% (6082) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 13% (5284). Of the deaths reported in 2023, Malawi accounts for 78% (638), followed by Mozambique at 5% (45) and Kenya with 5.1% (42). Cumulatively from October 2021, 134 690 cases have been reported, including 3112 deaths (CFR = 2.3%) as of 13 March 2023 (refer to table 1). Malawi accounts for 40% (53464) of the total cases and 53% (1643) of all deaths reported, and together with Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cameroon, contribute to 87% (116 664) of the overall case load and for 93% (2902) of cumulative deaths. Cameroon has had an outbreak since October 2021, while Malawi, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria reported cholera outbreaks in the first quarter of 2022. Kenya, Mozambique, and Ethiopia reported their outbreaks between August and October 2022, while Burundi, Zambia, United Republic of Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and South Sudan reported cholera outbreaks between January and March 2023. No new country has reported a cholera outbreak in the past week.