A World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning this week about the worrying rise in cholera cases around the world. According to the company, the number of cases registered in 2022 was more than twice as high as in 2021.
Last year wasA total of 472,697 cases were registered compared to 223,370 in the previous year. In addition, the number of countries reporting the disease increased by 25%, from 35 in 2021 to 44 in 2022.
According to the WHO, not only were there more cholera outbreaks, but those outbreaks were also larger. Seven countries, including Afghanistan, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria and the Arab Republic, reported more than 10,000 suspected or confirmed cases of the disease last year.
Current figures suggest the rise in cases is likely to continue into 2023. To date, 24 countries have confirmed ongoing cholera outbreakssome are facing what the WHO classifies as “acute crises” caused by the disease.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection transmitted through food and water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. According to the WHO, this situation is closely linked to lack of access to drinking water and adequate sanitation, poverty and conflict.
“Climate change is also playing a role in this resurgence, as extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and hurricanes trigger new outbreaks and worsen existing ones,” the organization explains.
It has been since October last year International Coordination Group (ICG), responsible for emergency vaccine supplies, has decided to suspend the standard twodose vaccination schedule in response to cholera outbreaks. Instead, a singledose approach is taken.
WHO warns of the importance of preventative measures, such as ensuring access to drinking water and adequate sanitation, as well as strengthening health systems and implementing effective strategies to contain the spread of the disease. The organization continues to monitor the situation and provide technical assistance to affected countries in the fight against cholera.