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The cholera outbreak in the WHO African Region continues to evolve, with 14 countries currently affected. The concurrent climate-induced natural disasters such as cyclones and flooding in the southern African region and drought in the Horn of Africa have led to an increase in cases of cholera in the affected countries. The cholera trends are being closely monitored and this highlights the need for Member States to enhance readiness, heighten surveillance and institute preventive and control measures at the points of entry to prevent and mitigate cross-border infection.

Cumulatively, 171 436 suspected cholera cases have been reported, including 3 378 deaths case fatality ratio (CFR = 2.0%) as of 17 April 2023 (Table 1). Malawi accounts for 34% (57 897) of the total cases and 51% (1 738) of all deaths reported, and together with Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, and Nigeria contribute to 91% (156 746) of the overall caseload and 93% (3 150) of cumulative deaths

The cholera outbreaks in the African Region are happening in the context of natural disasters such as cyclones (Mozambique, Malawi), flooding (Mozambique, Malawi), drought (Kenya and Ethiopia), conflict (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Ethiopia) and multiple disease outbreaks including Mpox, wild polio, measles, COVID-19 pandemic, etc. Many countries have limited and strained resources, shortage of medical commodities, including cholera kits and Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV). Poor sanitation and unreliable water supplies with increased cross-border movements also serve as driving factors for the outbreak across the region.