Global cholera deaths surged for the second consecutive year in 2024, according to new data released by the World Health Organization (WHO). The number of reported deaths rose by 50 percent compared to 2023, resulting in more than 6,000 fatalities from the waterborne disease, which remains both preventable and treatable. The number of cholera cases reported worldwide increased by five percent over the previous year. In total, 60 countries recorded infections in 2024, up from 45 in 2023.
The majority of the cases and deaths occurred in regions of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, which together accounted for 98 percent of the global caseload. The WHO said that several countries experienced particularly large outbreaks, including 12 that each reported over 10,000 cases. Of these, seven recorded widespread transmission for the first time in recent years. Comoros, which had not reported any cholera cases in over 15 years, experienced a renewed outbreak.
The situation illustrates continued vulnerability in areas with inadequate access to clean water, sanitation services, and healthcare infrastructure. In Africa, the case fatality rate rose from 1.4 percent in 2023 to 1.9 percent in 2024. One in four deaths occurred outside health facilities, indicating that many people lacked timely access to life-saving rehydration and medical treatment. The WHO noted that cholera’s persistence and expansion were being driven by factors including armed conflict, population displacement, and damage to water and sanitation systems.
60 countries report cases as cholera spreads to new regions
The organization emphasized that the official data likely underrepresents the true scale of cholera’s impact due to underreporting and limitations in national surveillance systems. Many countries with outbreaks face logistical and resource barriers to comprehensive case detection and data collection. Among the most affected countries were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and Syria. In these locations, concurrent emergencies such as armed conflict and extreme weather events have placed additional pressure on public health systems.
Cholera transmission in these settings was exacerbated by disruptions to clean water supplies and displacement of populations into overcrowded shelters with poor hygiene conditions. To respond to the rising threat, the WHO called for reinforced public health measures. These include the expansion of oral cholera vaccination campaigns, improvements in water and sanitation infrastructure, and strengthened disease surveillance and laboratory capacity. The agency also called on international donors and governments to increase funding for local and regional cholera control programs.
Global vaccine supply remains insufficient amid rising demand
Despite the availability of an effective oral cholera vaccine, global supplies remain limited. The WHO and its partners have been working to scale up production to meet growing demand, especially in countries facing complex emergencies. The Global Task Force on Cholera Control, a coalition of over 50 organizations, continues to coordinate response strategies and provide technical support to countries experiencing outbreaks. Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which spreads through water or food contaminated with fecal matter.
While the disease can kill within hours if left untreated, it can be rapidly managed with oral rehydration solutions and, in severe cases, intravenous fluids and antibiotics. The WHO maintains that access to clean water, sanitation, hygiene education, and prompt treatment are the most effective ways to reduce mortality and control the spread of the disease. The WHO’s latest report underscores the ongoing threat cholera poses to public health and the urgent need for sustained investment in prevention and response efforts. The organization continues to monitor global outbreaks in coordination with national ministries of health and partner agencies. – By Content Syndication Services.