Cholera Death Toll in Africa Surpasses 2,400 As Key Nations Struggle With Outbreaks

Cholera outbreaks across Africa have resulted in over 2,400 deaths in 2025, with South Sudan, the DRC, Angola, and Sudan being the hardest hit. The Africa CDC highlights the urgent need for coordinated response efforts and improvements in sanitation and water access to combat this public health crisis.

The cholera crisis in Africa has reached alarming levels, with more than 2,400 fatalities reported as of mid-May 2025, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The agency disclosed that the continent has logged a total of 115,513 cholera cases this year, signaling a grave public health emergency. Notably, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola, and Sudan rank as the hardest-hit nations, with South Sudan alone accounting for 848 deaths.

The Africa CDC has classified the cholera situation in these regions as dire, with Yap Boum II, the deputy incident manager for mpox at the agency, indicating a critical need for intervention. He mentioned that these four countries represent 84 percent of all reported cholera cases and an alarming 92 percent of related deaths in 2025. The health challenges are exacerbated by limited access to safe drinking water and a strained healthcare infrastructure across many parts of Africa.

Boum stressed that a unified regional response is essential, emphasizing the urgency for collaborative action to mitigate the advancing cholera outbreaks. He highlighted lessons learned from earlier disease responses, particularly from the management of mpox, which is now largely contained thanks to effective coordinated strategies.

The Africa CDC shared that Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, Principal Advisor to the agency’s Director General, will lead efforts in applying successful strategies from the mpox crisis to the current cholera situation. He confirmed that a similar collaborative approach with key partners will be prioritized in tackling cholera-related challenges. The UNICEF reported that, from January 2024 to March 2025, over 178,000 cholera cases emerged across 16 nations in eastern and southern Africa, resulting in more than 1,600 deaths.

Angola, DRC, South Sudan, and Sudan together constitute over 90 percent of these cases, with ongoing conflict being highlighted as a significant barrier to effective disease management. The Africa CDC is now aiming to replicate the Incident Management Support Team (IMST) model developed during the mpox response, which includes collaboration with the World Health Organization and other humanitarian agencies like UNICEF.

Under Dr. Ngongo’s guidance, the IMST has earned praise for its structured management of complex disease outbreaks by implementing an integrated strategy that encompasses various health concerns. He noted the importance of strengthening foundational health pillars, including surveillance and laboratory capabilities, to combat not only cholera but other concurrent disease outbreaks.

Public health experts continue to stress the importance of addressing the underlying issues contributing to cholera outbreaks, such as improving water quality and sanitation. Moreover, insecurity resulting from conflicts remains a formidable obstacle in many afflicted regions. Ngongo also reiterated the need for a more robust African pooled procurement system to boost local cholera vaccine production, especially given the recent challenges with supply shortages.

In summary, the cholera outbreak in Africa has resulted in over 2,400 deaths, particularly affecting South Sudan, the DRC, Angola, and Sudan. The Africa CDC stresses the need for a coordinated regional response and lessons learned from previous outbreaks. Addressing crucial issues like access to clean water and public health infrastructure has become imperative to combat the epidemic effectively and sustainably.

Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke