Publications

The cholera outbreak in the WHO African Region has affected 17 countries over the last two years. The two countries in crisis are Zambia and Zimbabwe with marked increase in cases. The southern region of the continent now in the rainy season with outbreaks now resurging. The increase in rainfall levels is now increasing floods in communities and landslides with increased for outbreaks in countries not reporting new confirmed cases. The seasonality of cholera outbreaks are issues for countries to consider and there is need to enhance preparedness and readiness, heighten surveillance and institute preventive and control measures in communities and around border crossings to prevent and mitigate cross border transmission. 

In Epidemiologic week 03 of 2024, six countries Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe reported a total of 5 796 new cases. Transmission is currently active in 13 countries with no recent report of new cases from Eswatini (last case reported April 18), Republic of the Congo (last case reported 26 July), South Sudan (last case reported May 16), and Uganda (last case reported 1 September 2023). 

In 2024, the number of cholera cases and deaths reported to the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), as of 21 January was 17 614 and 526 deaths respectively with a case fatality ratio of 3.0%. 

Since 1 January 2022, a cumulative total of 303 121 cholera cases has been reported including 5 614 deaths with a case fatality ratio (CFR) of 1.9% as of 21 January 2024. Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Nigeria account for 76.4% (231 646) of the cumulative cases and 69.5% (3 899) of all cumulative deaths reported.