UGANDA— Dr. Patrick Otim, a World Health Organization (WHO) official in Africa, is calling for increased support to countries grappling with cholera outbreaks.

He warns that the disease has the potential to rapidly spread, particularly in areas with continued rainfall and contaminated water sources.

According to Dr. Otim, cholera outbreaks are particularly dangerous due to the short incubation period and the involvement of contaminated water sources.

Therefore, it is crucial that affected countries receive support to respond to outbreaks before they become too large.

Cholera has been reported in 12 out of 54 African countries, with South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe being the latest to report cases.

Malawi is currently facing its worst outbreak ever, with hundreds of deaths reported. Madagascar, which has experienced two destructive cyclones this year, is also battling a concerning outbreak.

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa, has warned that increased rainfall in countries like Malawi is slowing control efforts in some areas.

She also notes that climate change could make cholera epidemics more common, as the bacteria that causes the disease can reproduce more quickly in warmer water.

To date, 3.4 million doses of the oral cholera vaccine have been sent to Kenya, Congo, and Mozambique, where cases are increasing.

However, there is a shortage of vaccine in Africa due to global demand. Other countries facing cholera outbreaks include Haiti, Lebanon, and Syria.

Multiple countries affected

Cholera cases are on the rise globally, with 22 countries currently experiencing an outbreak. The increase in incidence is attributed to vaccine shortages, climate change, and escalating conflict.

During the first 29 days of January, 26,000 cholera cases were reported throughout Africa, representing 30% of the continent’s total in 2022.

Mozambique is currently grappling with a severe outbreak, exacerbated by cyclone Freddy. As of 19 February, Mozambique has reported 5,237 suspected cases and 37 deaths.

Neighboring Malawi is facing the deadliest cholera outbreak in two decades, and cases are being reported in other countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, WHO reported.

Worldwide, people in Haiti, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Syria, among others, are also affected by outbreaks.

WHO is calling for a US$25 million fund to address cholera outbreaks and save lives.

Prevention is key, as nearly half the world lacks access to safely managed sanitation, and access to safe drinking water and sanitation are internationally recognized human rights.

While the number of cases had been declining, researchers estimate that every year, there are between 1.3 and 4 million cases and 21,000 to 143,000 deaths worldwide due to the infection.

In the meantime, the EU has aided Malawi in the cholera outbreak by providing €1.5 million (US$1.6 million) to support WHO in procuring supplies, forecasting at the district level, and developing an information-sharing system.

An additional €500,000 (US$530,645) has been given to a UNICEF project for life-saving services to improve case management and reduce deaths. The EU had previously allocated €540,000 (US$573,096) to UNICEF for the same purpose.

The EU has also provided emergency funding for cholera epidemics in Syria, Ethiopia, and Haiti, while the UN has launched a Flash Appeal to help 4 million people affected by the outbreak, with a call for US$45.3 million in the next five months.

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