By Ayomide Otitoju
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its global cholera statistics for 2023, revealing a concerning rise in both cases and fatalities. Reported cholera cases increased by 13% and deaths surged by 71% compared to 2022. Last year, over 4,000 lives were claimed by a disease that is both preventable and treatable.
The data shows that 45 countries reported cholera cases in 2023, up from 44 the previous year and 35 in 2021. Notably, 38% of reported cases were among children under five years old.
Cholera, an acute intestinal infection spread through contaminated food and water, predominantly affects communities with inadequate sanitation. Contributing factors to the rise in outbreaks include conflict, climate change, insufficient safe water and sanitation, poverty, underdevelopment, and population displacement due to conflicts and natural disasters.
Geographically, cholera distribution shifted significantly from 2022 to 2023, with a 32% decrease in cases reported from the Middle East and Asia, contrasted by a 125% increase in Africa. Many African nations reported a high proportion of community deaths, underscoring gaps in treatment access.
For the first time, multiple countries have reported ‘community deaths,’ where cholera fatalities occur outside health facilities. In five of the 13 affected countries, over a third of cholera deaths were community-based, highlighting urgent needs in treatment accessibility and response strengthening.
Major outbreaks continued in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Somalia, with Ethiopia, Haiti, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe also contributing to the increase in cases in 2023.
Preliminary data indicate that the global cholera crisis persists into 2024, with 22 countries currently facing active outbreaks. As of August 22, 2024, 342,800 cases and 2,400 deaths have been reported worldwide. Although the number of cases so far this year is lower than the same period last year, the demand for cholera materials such as oral cholera vaccines (OCV), diagnostic tests, and essential medications remains high.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the International Coordinating Group (ICG) has adopted a single-dose vaccination strategy due to limited vaccine supplies. Despite a record shipment of 35 million doses in 2023, safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene are critical for long-term cholera prevention.
WHO assesses the global risk from cholera as very high and is working urgently to reduce deaths and control outbreaks. The organization supports countries through enhanced public health surveillance, case management, and prevention measures, while also coordinating field deployments and risk communication. Since 2022, WHO has allocated US$18 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies for cholera response but has appealed for an additional US$50 million for 2024, a need that remains unmet.
