Cholera warning: catastrophic location in conflict regions of Africa!

Cholera warning: catastrophic location in conflict regions of Africa!

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of a worrying spread of cholera in several conflict regions, especially in Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Yemen. These areas are strongly affected by persistent conflicts that reinforce the cholera infections. People who live in refugee camps often only have access to three liters of water a day, which has to be used for drinking, washing and cooking. Access to clean drinking water is crucial to combat the cholera and the situation could continue to exacerbate in the rainy season that is now beginning, as it favors the spread of the bacterium.

The WHO has reported that global demand for cholera vaccines has reached record heights this year. So far, the Sudan has only received a third of the vaccines required, which illustrates the urgency of the situation. Jean Kaseya, General Director of the African Health Authority Africa (CDC), criticized the insufficient availability of vaccines in view of the annual needs of 54 million doses on the African continent, only about half of which are available.

Global cholera situation

Cholera is a serious diarrhea that can be fatal within a few hours. It is estimated that there are between 1.3 and 4 million cases of illness worldwide every year, which can lead to 21,000 to 143,000 deaths. Most cholera cases are mild and can be treated with an oral rehydration solution (ORS). However, serious cases require intravenous liquids and antibiotics. The disease is caused by the bacterium vibrio cholerae, which is usually transmitted via contaminated food or water.

A central challenge in the control of cholera are limited access to safe water as well as inadequate sanitary conditions, which are often tightened by conflicts and climatic events. In 2023, the WHO reported 535,321 cholera cases and 4,007 deaths in 45 countries. The discrepancies in the reported number of cases could be due to inadequate monitoring of the diseases and the fear of possible reprisals.

Prevention strategies

Preventive measures are essential to control cholera outbreaks. The WHO underlines the need to strengthen surveillance systems, to improve access to sanitary facilities and to actively involve the communities in the fight against cholera. This includes the implementation of vaccination campaigns. There are currently three WHO-pre-qualified oral cholera vaccines available: Dukoral®, Euvichol-Plus® and Euvichol-S®, which require all two doses for full protection.

The Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) pursues the goal of reducing global cholera stress. It has developed a timetable that provides for a reduction in cholera deaths by 90 percent by 2030 and the elimination of the disease in 20 countries. In order to achieve these goals, a better surveillance system is necessary, which also includes reporting on cholera cases and deaths. The WHO calls on all Member States for active participation in cholera reporting.

Overall, the cholera situation in many regions of the world is tense and requires quick and comprehensive measures to ensure the health and safety of the affected population. Further information on cholera prevention and treatment can be found on the WHO website.