Cholera should not be killing anyone in 21st century: WHO

The World Health Organization is sounding the alarm about a significant global cholera outbreak in 2024-2025. Dr. Philippe Barboza revealed shocking statistics showing over 1,00,000 cases and 1,300 deaths across multiple countries, including unprecedented spread to regions like Namibia and Kenya. Climate change and ongoing conflicts are contributing to the disease's rapid transmission, making prevention increasingly challenging. With limited vaccine supplies and high demand, WHO is urgently calling for increased global cooperation to combat this preventable health crisis.

"This disease should not exist in the 21st century" - Philippe Barboza, WHO Cholera Team Lead

Philippe Barboza, cholera team lead at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said that this year already, 1,00,000 cholera cases and 1,300 deaths had been reported.

Key Points

1 WHO reports 1,00,000 cholera cases with 1,300 fatalities in current year

2 Angola represents 36% of global cholera cases in 2025

3 Conflict and climate change escalate cholera transmission risks

4 Limited vaccine supplies challenge emergency response efforts

Preliminary data showed that 8,10,000 and 5,900 deaths had been reported in the year 2024, a large increase from 2023. These numbers were an underestimate, as official reporting remained incomplete. This disease should not exist in the 21st century, but it was now regrettably spreading to countries where it had not existed before, including Namibia and Kenya. The case fatality ratio in some countries went above one percent.

In Angola, for example, from where Dr. Barboza had just returned, the fatality rate was over 4%. Rapid spread to other parts of Angola and neighbouring countries remained very concerning. Angola's caseload represented 36% of the global cases in 2025. WHO and partners had dispatched rapid deployment teams and were establishing facilities and training staff.

Since July 2024, 12,000 acute cholera cases had been reported in Myanmar, said Dr. Barboza. Globally, conflict along with climate change had exacerbated the situation. Haiti, on the other hand, had no funds left to deal with its own cholera outbreak, he added.

At the end of March, he continued, WHO had 5.6 million treatment doses for emergency responses. Demand remained very high, so further expansion of vaccine production was necessary. Together, with joint action and further investment, further outbreaks could be prevented. Dr. Barboza stressed once again that cholera should not be killing anyone in the 21st century. 

https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/cholera-not-killing-anyone-21st-century-765