The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its global cholera statistics for 2023, highlighting a worrying surge in both cases and deaths. In comparison to 2022, cholera cases increased by 13%, while deaths surged by a staggering 71%. Over 4,000 people died from this preventable and treatable disease last year.
A total of 45 countries reported cholera cases in 2023, up from 44 in 2022 and 35 in 2021. Of these cases, 38% were found in children under five years old. Cholera, an acute intestinal infection, is primarily spread through contaminated food and water, with the worst impacts seen in communities lacking access to proper sanitation.
Several factors have contributed to this rise in cholera cases, including conflict, climate change, lack of safe water and sanitation, poverty, and displacement due to conflicts and natural disasters. The geographical spread of cholera has also changed notably.
While the Middle East and Asia reported a 32% decrease in cases, Africa saw a shocking 125% increase. Many African nations also reported a higher proportion of deaths occurring outside health facilities, known as "community deaths," which indicates significant gaps in access to medical treatment.
The year 2023 marked the first time that multiple countries reported community deaths from cholera, with five out of 13 affected nations seeing over a third of fatalities occurring in the community.
Countries such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Somalia experienced large outbreaks, each reporting over 10,000 suspected or confirmed cases. Ethiopia, Haiti, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe also contributed to the rising toll.
Preliminary data for 2024 shows that the global cholera crisis persists, with 22 countries currently grappling with active outbreaks. By August 22, 342,800 cases and 2,400 deaths had already been reported. The demand for cholera-related materials, such as vaccines and oral rehydration salts, remains high, further straining global efforts to control the disease.
Due to vaccine shortages, the International Coordinating Group (ICG) implemented a single-dose vaccination strategy in 2023 to maximize the limited supply. Although a record 35 million doses of oral cholera vaccines were shipped last year, WHO emphasizes that the long-term solution lies in improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.
WHO continues to work with countries to enhance public health efforts, improve medical supplies, and strengthen community engagement to tackle this escalating global health crisis.
