Cholera Crisis in Africa: Death Toll Exceeds 2,400 Amidst Widespread Outbreaks
Cholera outbreaks in Africa have resulted in more than 2,400 deaths since early 2025, with South Sudan, DRC, Angola, and Sudan being the most affected. Africa CDC reports over 115,000 cases, while the organization emphasizes the need for urgent coordinated response efforts. The focus will be on improving access to clean water and applying lessons learned from previous disease outbreaks to control the current epidemic.
The cholera crisis in Africa has reached alarming levels, with over 2,400 deaths reported as of mid-May 2025, according to data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The organization revealed a staggering total of 115,513 cases across the continent, highlighting that nations like South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola, and Sudan are among the hardest hit. Particularly concerning is South Sudan, which has seen 848 cholera-related fatalities, the highest in the region.
Both the DRC and Angola have suffered significantly as well, with recorded deaths reaching 609 and 513 respectively. The challenges faced in these areas include limited access to clean water. This lack of essential resources is particularly troubling as it also complicates ongoing health crises already afflicting many African nations.
Yap Boum II, the deputy incident manager for mpox at Africa CDC, described the situation in these four countries as “severe.” He noted that they collectively represent over 84 percent of this year’s cholera cases and a staggering 92 percent of related deaths. Boum stressed the necessity for a coordinated response at both regional and continental levels to halt the spread of cholera, emphasizing the urgent need to improve access to clean water.
The pandemic of cholera finds itself amidst multiple health emergencies; the Africa CDC is learning from previous outbreaks, particularly mpox. Discussions are underway to apply effective strategies from that response to combat cholera. Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, principal advisor to the Director General of Africa CDC, assured stakeholders that shared lessons, particularly from partner collaboration, will be crucial in the fight against cholera.
From January 2024 to March 2025, UNICEF reported more than 178,000 confirmed cholera cases across 16 countries in eastern and southern Africa, resulting in over 1,600 deaths. Among these countries, those hardest hit include Kenya, Ghana, and Mozambique, but Angola, DRC, South Sudan, and Sudan account for over 90 percent of reported cases. Unfortunately, these outbreaks are exacerbated by conflict, which disrupts critical health services.
To tackle this situation, the Africa CDC is developing an Incident Management Support Team (IMST) with the World Health Organization (WHO) and several other key partners. This team aims to replicate the success seen in the mpox response by fostering coordinated efforts across institutions, including UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Under Dr. Ngongo’s guidance, IMST has been praised for its unified attack on complex disease outbreaks; he emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach, mentioning the integration of responses for measles and chickenpox. Furthermore, he highlighted efforts to enhance surveillance and laboratory capacity across the continent, preparing for simultaneous management of future outbreaks, including cholera.
Despite these initiatives, experts underline that root causes must be addressed. Improving water sanitation and hygiene is crucial for any sustainable solution. Additionally, persistent conflict in many affected regions remains a significant challenge. Ngongo called for a stronger system for pooled procurement of cholera vaccines, which has faced supply issues in recent years, underscoring the urgent need for local production to mitigate the health crisis in the long term.
As Africa battles an escalating cholera crisis with a death toll exceeding 2,400, a coordinated response is increasingly vital. Major countries affected, such as South Sudan, DRC, Angola, and Sudan, collectively bear the brunt of this outbreak. While strategies are being adapted from previous health crises, addressing fundamental issues like access to clean water remains critical to countering this public health emergency effectively.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
