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The cholera outbreak in the WHO African Region in 2025 has affected 20 countries (Angola, Burundi, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Togo, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). Namibia newly reported an outbreak in June 2025. Furthermore, in June 2025, cases increased in Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ethiopia compared to the reported cases in May.

Climate change and natural disasters have contributed to the perpetuation of outbreaks on the continent. Meanwhile, Member States need to improve cholera preparedness and readiness, heighten surveillance, and scale up preventive and control measures in communities and around border crossings. A multi-sectoral response in collaboration with Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sectors is key in the fight to eliminate cholera on the continent.

WHO in collaboration with Africa CDC, facilitated the Heads of States and Governments meeting, which was held on 4 June 2025, convened by the President of Zambia (Cholera Champion) to discuss the rising cases of cholera on the African continent in the 20 affected countries. The meeting was preceded by a Ministerial meeting of Ministers of Health, Finance, Water Environment and Sanitation on 2 June 2025 to present recommendations to their Presidents/Heads of State. This meeting produced a Call to Action to eliminate cholera on the continent by 2030.

Since the beginning of 2025, the number of cholera cases and deaths reported to the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) as of 29 June was 144 665 and 2 917 respectively, with a case fatality ratio of 2.0% (same as reported as of the end of May). The top five countries affected are South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Angola, Ethiopia and Mozambique, which account for 92.3% (133 580) of the cases and 93.7% (2 734) of deaths.

From 01 January 2024 to 29 June 2025, a cumulative total of 323 375 cholera cases, including 6 150 deaths (CFR: 1.9%), have been reported in the region. (Table 1). Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and South Sudan account for 71.5% (231 365) of these cases and 73.7% (4 534) deaths reported.

Cases and deaths in June 2025 decreased compared to May 2025 by 43.2% from 31 593 cases to 17 936. And deaths by 47.1%, from 595 deaths to 315 (refer to Fig 2 - 4). The case fatality ratio (CFR) in June 2025 was 1.8% compared to 1.9% in May, which showed a decrease in the CFR. However, a higher number of countries 15 reported cases in June 2025, compared to 13 countries in May 2025.