Cholera Death Toll in Africa Surpasses 2,400 Amid Severe Outbreaks

Cholera outbreaks in Africa have led to over 2,400 deaths in 2025, with South Sudan experiencing the most fatalities. The Africa CDC reports a total of 115,513 cases continent-wide, emphasizing the need for immediate, coordinated responses. Strategies similar to those effective in controlling mpox will be implemented, alongside calls for improved water access and local vaccine production.

As of mid-May 2025, cholera outbreaks in Africa have resulted in more than 2,400 deaths, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The agency has reported a staggering 115,513 cases of cholera across the continent, creating widespread concern among health officials. South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola, and Sudan are particularly hard-hit, with South Sudan leading the toll with 848 deaths.

During a recent online media briefing, Yap Boum II, the deputy incident manager for mpox at the Africa CDC, revealed that these four countries account for an overwhelming majority of the cholera cases—84 percent— and a colossal 92 percent of related deaths reported this year. Angola and DRC follow closely, having recorded 609 and 513 deaths respectively.

The Africa CDC attributed the cholera’s persistence to inadequate access to clean water, which is exacerbated by strained healthcare systems throughout the continent. As existing public health emergencies mount, these challenges only deepen. Boum asserted that immediate and coordinated regional responses are essential to curb the cholera outbreaks.

The agency is considering frameworks from past outbreaks, particularly the collaborative actions that led to a manageable situation with mpox. Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, Principal Advisor to the Africa CDC Director General, confirmed that strategies effective against mpox will be adapted for choleral response efforts. He emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to tackle this health threat.

UNICEF has reported alarming cholera statistics, detailing over 178,000 cases across 16 nations in eastern and southern Africa from January 2024 to March 2025, which have led to upwards of 1,600 fatalities. The countries most affected include Kenya, Ghana, and Mozambique, but once again Angola, DRC, South Sudan, and Sudan dominate the statistics with over 90 percent of all reported cases.

Conflict and instability are clear impediments in the affected regions and are recognized as major contributors to the ongoing crisis. The Africa CDC is now expanding its Incident Management Support Team (IMST) to deal with this outbreak. This collaborative team also includes the World Health Organization (WHO) and other entities, demonstrating a united front in managing multiple public health threats.

Ngongo explained: “We have shifted toward an integrated strategy.” This includes improving surveillance and laboratory infrastructure to ensure the capacity to tackle other diseases simultaneously. Furthermore, he highlighted the necessity for a stronger African pooled procurement mechanism that will support local production of cholera vaccines, which remain scarce.

In conclusion, as cholera’s toll rises, the complexity of its management underscores the critical need for enhanced sanitation, water quality improvements, and a robust public health infrastructure across the continent. Addressing the foundational causes of the disease alongside immediate responses remains paramount as experts advocate for sustained action to avert further tragedy in affected nations.

The urgent cholera crisis in Africa, claiming over 2,400 lives primarily in South Sudan, DRC, Angola, and Sudan, highlights the dire need for improved water access and sanitation. The Africa CDC’s coordinated response draws on previous strategies used in the mpox management, aiming for integrated disease control measures. Experts insist that tackling the root causes, including conflict, sanitation, and healthcare systems, is critical to effectively combatting future outbreaks. A unified approach and local vaccine production are essential in addressing this ongoing threat.

Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke