Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 13: Cholera, a preventable and treatable disease, remains a serious global health challenge, with 31 countries reporting outbreaks in 2025, according to a new report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday. The report reveals a troubling trend: cholera-related deaths surged by 50% in 2024 compared to 2023, exceeding 6,000 fatalities for the second consecutive year, while reported cases rose by 5%.
Despite available treatments and growing awareness, the WHO notes that these figures likely underestimate the actual burden of the disease, which is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and spreads primarily through contaminated water.
“Conflict, climate change, population displacement, and long-term deficiencies in water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure continue to fuel the rise of cholera,” the report stated, identifying these systemic issues as core drivers of the ongoing outbreaks.
In 2024, 60 countries reported cholera cases, up from 45 the previous year. The regions most heavily affected were Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, which together accounted for 98% of all reported infections. The spread of the disease also widened, with 12 countries each reporting over 10,000 cases, including seven experiencing large-scale outbreaks for the first time.
The WHO emphasized that reversing this trend requires urgent, coordinated action. “Governments, donors, and communities must ensure access to safe water and hygiene facilities, promote public awareness, and expand rapid access to treatment and vaccination,” the report urged. It also highlighted the critical role of surveillance, diagnostics, and increased vaccine production to guide and support outbreak responses.
In a significant development, the WHO prequalified a new oral cholera vaccine (OCV), Euvichol-S, in early 2024. This contributed to maintaining global vaccine stockpiles above the emergency threshold of 5 million doses for the first half of 2025. However, due to persistent supply shortages and high demand, the temporary switch to a single-dose vaccination regimen—originally introduced to stretch limited resources—remained in effect through 2024 and into 2025.
In total, 61 million vaccine doses were requested from the global stockpile in 2024. Of these, a record 40 million were approved for emergency use in 16 countries as part of reactive single-dose campaigns. Despite this, supply continues to lag behind demand.
The WHO report underscores that the global cholera crisis is far from over, and without increased investment in water infrastructure, vaccine production, and public health systems, the world may continue to see rising case numbers and preventable deaths in the years ahead.