Publications

The cholera outbreak in the WHO African Region has affected 18 countries over the last two years. Five countries are categorized as being in acute crisis (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), though there has been sustained decrease in weekly case incidence in Zambia and Zimbabwe. The southern region of the continent, now in the rainy season, is experiencing resurging outbreaks. The increase in rainfall levels is causing floods and landslides in communities. This raises the risk of outbreaks in countries that have not reported new confirmed cases. The seasonality of cholera outbreaks is an issue for countries to consider. They need to improve preparedness and readiness, heighten surveillance, and scale up preventive and control measures in communities and around border crossings. This will prevent outbreaks, engender early response and reduce cross-border transmission.

In Epidemiologic week 08 of 2024, ten countries- Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwereported a total of 3 713 new cases. Transmission is currently active in 13 countries. In 2024, Comoros confirmed an outbreak linked to cross border transmission. Since the beginning of the year 2024, the number of cholera cases and deaths reported to the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) as of 25 February was 45 858 and 1 049 deaths, respectively, with a case fatality ratio of 2.3%. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe account for 95.8% (43 914) of the total cases and 96.5% (1 012) of total deaths this year.

As of 25 February 2024, a cumulative total of 332 269 cholera cases, including 6 158 deaths (CFR: 1.9%), have been reported since 1 January 2022. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Nigeria accounts for 74.0% (246 038) of the cumulative cases and 66.6% (4 103) of all cumulative deaths reported