Zambia, DRC, Zimbabwe account for 85.7% of cholera outbreaks in Africa, report reveals

A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zimbabwe account for 85.7 percent of all cholera cases reported in Africa as of June 30, 2024.

According to WHO’s African regional office, 104,038 cholera cases and 1,732 deaths were reported across the continent by mid-2024, with a case fatality ratio of 1.7 percent.

Zambia, the DRC, and Zimbabwe, alongside Comoros, accounted for 89,208 cases and 91.2 percent (1,580) of the total deaths from the outbreak.

The “State of Africa’s Environment 2024” report, released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in partnership with Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA), further emphasized that repeated cholera outbreaks highlighted the severe impact of limited access to safe water and sanitation across the continent.

The report pointed out the close link between water pollution and poor sanitation practices, stating that death rates from unsafe water sources in Africa reached 50 per 100,000 people—1,000 times higher than in developed countries.

It also highlighted the urgency of improving sanitation, as poor faecal sludge management continued to cause 115 deaths per hour from excreta-related diseases in Africa.

Despite progress in some regions, the report noted that many African countries are still falling short of the pace needed to achieve adequate sanitation and prevent cholera and other waterborne diseases.

The report estimated that at least 40 million people in Africa live in cholera-endemic areas, facing the constant risk of outbreaks.

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