Cholera Death Toll in Africa Exceeds 2,400 as Major Outbreaks Unfold

The Africa CDC reports over 2,400 cholera deaths in Africa as of May 2025, primarily affecting South Sudan, DRC, Angola, and Sudan. The urgent need for coordinated regional response strategies is emphasized, alongside improving water access and sanitation.

As of mid-May 2025, cholera outbreaks across Africa have resulted in over 2,400 deaths and more than 115,000 reported cases, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Countries such as South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola, and Sudan have been particularly hard-hit, with South Sudan alone accounting for 848 fatalities, the highest in the region.

Yap Boum II, the Africa CDC’s deputy incident manager for mpox, highlighted in an online briefing that these four nations make up a staggering 84 percent of all cholera cases and an alarming 92 percent of the total deaths this year. Angola and the DRC follow South Sudan closely with 609 and 513 deaths, respectively, marking significant health crises.

The Africa CDC points out that deteriorating access to clean water is a crucial factor in the cholera’s spread, worsened by weakened health systems in many regions. The agency noted that these outbreaks occur alongside other serious public health emergencies, putting immense strain on existing resources.

Boum underscored the urgency of a coordinated regional response, stating, “A coordinated regional and continental response is urgently needed to control the spread of cholera outbreaks across Africa.” Drawing from past experiences with other diseases, the Africa CDC is examining how to effectively manage the current cholera crisis.

Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, principal advisor to the Africa CDC Director General, confirmed that strategies employed in the successful mpox response will be adapted to combat cholera. “Lessons learned from the mpox response, especially the need for close collaboration with other partners, will now be applied to fighting cholera,” he said.

According to UNICEF data, between January 2024 and March 2025, over 178,000 cholera cases were confirmed in 16 countries throughout eastern and southern Africa, resulting in more than 1,600 deaths. The four countries leading the charge in case numbers—Angola, the DRC, South Sudan, and Sudan—account for over 90 percent of cases reported within this timeframe, with conflict exacerbating the situation.

To respond effectively, the Africa CDC is looking to replicate the coordination seen during the mpox outbreak through the Incident Management Support Team (IMST), which is led by the Africa CDC in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and several other partners. Ngongo noted that under his guidance, the IMST has been recognized for its effective management of complex disease outbreaks.

“We’ve shifted toward an integrated strategy that also includes the care of measles and chickenpox,” he explained, indicating the comprehensive nature of the approach now being utilized to tackle multiple health challenges simultaneously. The IMST is expanding to prioritize the ongoing cholera outbreak as well.

Despite these organized efforts, experts agree that a more profound approach is necessary to truly combat cholera: enhancing water quality, sanitation, and hygiene practices is vital. Conflicts and insecurity present ongoing hurdles that must also be addressed.

Furthermore, Ngongo suggested establishing a stronger African pooled procurement mechanism aimed at bolstering local cholera vaccine production, which has faced shortages in recent years. Such measures are essential for a sustainable response to ongoing and future outbreaks.

The cholera outbreak in Africa has reached critical levels, with over 2,400 deaths recorded across several countries, most notably South Sudan, DRC, Angola, and Sudan. The Africa CDC emphasizes that a coordinated and integrated response is urgently necessary, drawing on lessons from previous disease management efforts. There is a pressing need for improved infrastructure related to water and sanitation, alongside initiatives for local vaccine production to mitigate future outbreaks.

Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke