The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a cumulative toll of 194,897 deaths and 1,932 reported cases globally due to a cholera outbreak. This alarming statistic highlights the severity of the situation and the widespread impact of this deadly disease.
According to a statement from the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, these outbreaks occurred between January 1, 2024, and May 26, 2024. The data reveals that the cholera cases spanned across 24 countries, spread over five of the WHO’s regions. The Eastern Mediterranean Region reported the highest numbers of cases, followed closely by the African Region. Other affected regions include the Americas, the South-East Asia Region, and the European Region. Notably, the Western Pacific Region did not report any outbreaks during this period.
“The global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) was depleted until early March but exceeded the emergency target of 5 million doses in early June for the first time in 2024. As of 10 June 2024, the stockpile has 6.2 million doses. However, demand for the vaccine continues to outpace supply. Since January 2023, 92 million OCV doses were requested by 16 countries, nearly double the 49 million doses produced during this period,” it said.
By March, the WHO had exhausted its global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV). Despite this setback, the organization managed to surpass “the emergency target of five million doses in early June for the first time in 2024.” Since January of the previous year, a significant number of countries—16 in total—requested 92 million doses of OCV. This demand is almost double the 49 million doses that were actually produced during that timeframe.
The WHO is actively collaborating with partners such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other organizations to leverage resources in order to develop long-term solutions for managing and preventing cholera. This cooperation is crucial given the severe resurgence of cholera globally, which the WHO classified as a grade three emergency in January 2023. This designation, the highest internal level for emergencies within the WHO, underscores the gravity of the outbreaks, their extensive geographic spread, and the critical shortage of vaccines and other necessary resources.
“After decades of progress against cholera, cases are again on the rise, even in countries that have not seen the disease in years,” the agency stated.
Cholera is a severe intestinal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, typically from fecal matter. The disease is preventable with access to clean water and proper sanitation. However, if left untreated, cholera can be fatal within hours. Immediate medical treatment is essential for saving lives.
The factors contributing to cholera outbreaks, such as poverty and conflict, remain persistent challenges. Additionally, climate change and extreme weather events like floods, cyclones, and droughts exacerbate the situation by diminishing access to clean water and creating conditions conducive to the spread of cholera. The WHO highlighted these compounding factors, noting the increased difficulty in controlling the disease under these circumstances.
In 2022, cholera cases were reported by 44 countries, marking a 25 percent increase from the 35 countries that reported cases in 2021. This upward trend continued into 2023, with the recent outbreaks being notably more deadly and exhibiting the highest case fatality rates recorded in over a decade.
“The recent outbreaks have also been more deadly, with case fatality rates being the highest recorded in over a decade. This increase in outbreaks and cases is stretching the global capacity to respond. There is a shortage of cholera tools, including vaccines,” the statement added.
In Nigeria, the situation is particularly dire. The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Kemi Ogunyemi, reported that fatalities have risen to 21, following the last update which indicated 350 suspected cases and 15 deaths. Similarly, in Ogun State, the government confirmed an outbreak resulting in the death of a 62-year-old woman and five others being hospitalized.
The WHO’s assessment of the current global risk from cholera remains very high, prompting an urgent and coordinated response to mitigate the impact, reduce fatalities, and contain the outbreaks across affected countries.
