Today's Edition
GENEVA (WAM)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the number of reported cholera cases increased by 13 per cent and deaths by 71 per cent in 2023 compared to 2022. In its global cholera statistics for 2023, WHO stated that over 4000 people died last year from a disease that is preventable and easily treatable.
Forty-five countries reported cases, an increase from 44 the previous year and 35 in 2021. Thirty-eight percent of the reported cases were among children under five years of age.
WHO said that conflict, climate change, inadequate safe water and sanitation, poverty, underdevelopment, and population displacement due to emerging and re-emerging conflicts and disasters from natural hazards all contributed to the rise in cholera outbreaks last year.
The geographical distribution of cholera changed significantly from 2022 to 2023, with a 32 per cent decrease in cases reported from the Middle East and Asia, and a 125 per cent increase in Africa. Many countries in Africa reported a high proportion of community deaths, indicating gaps in access to treatment.
Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi and Somalia continued to report large outbreaks of over 10,000 suspected or confirmed cases, with Ethiopia, Haiti, Mozambique and Zimbabwe adding to the tally in 2023.
Preliminary data show that the global cholera crisis continues into 2024, with 22 countries currently reporting active outbreaks. Although the number of cases reported so far in 2024 is lower compared to the same period last year, 342 800 cases and 2400 deaths have already been reported to WHO across all continents as of August 22.
