WHO Warns of Worsening Global Cholera Outbreaks, Urges Swift Action
WHO Warns of Worsening Global Cholera Outbreaks, Urges Swift Action
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm over worsening cholera outbreaks worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for rapid and coordinated public health responses, Xinhua reported.
Between January 1 and August 17, 2025, WHO reported 409,000 cholera cases and 4,738 deaths across 31 countries, with six nations recording a case fatality rate exceeding 1 percent. The Eastern Mediterranean Region reported the highest number of cases, while the African Region accounted for the most deaths.
According to WHO, the spread of cholera is being driven by conflict, mass displacement, natural disasters, and climate change, particularly affecting rural and flood-affected areas with weak infrastructure and limited access to healthcare. The cross-border nature of these outbreaks has made containment increasingly complex.
WHO emphasizes that long-term prevention relies on access to safe drinking water, improved sanitation, and hygiene. The organization assesses the risk of further spread both within and across countries as very high, given the scale and severity of the outbreaks.
To curb transmission, WHO recommends strengthening surveillance, enhancing case management, scaling up Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions, implementing vaccination campaigns, and improving cross-border coordination to enforce public health measures effectively.
