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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that a cumulative total of 5162 deaths from 733 956 cholera cases were reported from 33 countries across five WHO regions
Between January 1 to 24 November 2024.
WHO made this known in its multi-country outbreak of cholera, external situation report #21 – 18 December 2024
Edition 21
The number of cases and deaths reported in November 2024 are 37 per cent and 27 per cent higher, respectively, compared to the same month in 2023.
According to WHO, factors such as conflict, mass displacement, natural disasters, and climate change have intensified outbreaks, particularly in rural and flood-affected areas, where poor infrastructure and limited healthcare access delay treatment.
These cross-border dynamics, the international health body said have made cholera outbreaks increasingly complex and harder to control.
WHO informed that in November, Oral Cholera Vaccines production reached its highest level since 2013, driven by new formulations and production methods introduced and prequalified this year.
This increase, WHO in its Report said allowed the average stock to rise to 3.5 million doses in November compared to 600 000 in October, closer to the five million doses needed for emergency stockpile at all times for effective outbreak response.
However, WHO said that increased production has not met the rising global demand, adding that this persistent shortage continues to hinder efforts to control cholera outbreaks and respond promptly to the disease’s spread.
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