2024 Sees Staggering Rise of Cholera Cases in Africa

Outbreaks of cholera have occurred much more frequently in Africa since 2021 - Wikimedia Commons

Several African countries in the Sahel region have seen drastic increases in the number of cholera cases, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Canadian state news agency, reported on October 23. These are the most recent outbreaks in 2024, with others having occurred earlier this year in the southern and eastern parts of the continent.

The October outbreaks have occurred in Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Sudan; all five countries have suffered regional flooding earlier that same month, according to AP. Nigeria and Sudan have reported 150 and 400 cholera-related deaths respectively in October. 

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease spread through the ingestion of contaminated food or water. Although it is a relatively preventably disease, it can strike severely in areas with poor medical infrastructure. Isolated areas, such as Northern Nigeria, or areas currently in states of civil strife and conflict, such as Sudan, are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks. The disease is most prevalent in areas with poor sanitation or water quality, and it has often been called a “disease of poverty”. 

There have been an estimated 6,000 deaths from cholera in Africa since 2021, reflecting a worldwide trend in the increase of cholera outbreaks. In addition to West Africa, there have been major outbreaks since 2023 in Ethiopia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Ethiopia estimates it has suffered 240 deaths, while Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia have reported a combined 3000. A major point of similarity between these countries is the increased prevalence of freak weather events, including flooding, cyclones, and droughts.

The medical community has identified a few major causes for these past few years’ cholera upsurges. These include the effects of climate change on weather patterns as well as armed conflicts occurring throughout the region.

Cholera has always been present with seasonal weather cycles in Africa, usually coming with seasonal storms and flooding; however, there are now fears within the scientific community, notably the World Health Organization (WHO), that climate change’s effects on weather patterns will increase both the frequency and severity of cholera outbreaks. 

These upticks in cholera have put stresses on both global and domestic health infrastructure. Global stockpiles of the main vaccine for the disease, OCV, are reportedly nearly exhausted by recent outbreaks across the developing world. This, combined with recent armed conflict in many of these countries, has created an almost perfect storm to amplify the recent outbreaks.

Governments and NGOs in the region have redoubled efforts against cholera. The WHO has expanded its outreach in the region, particularly in hard-hit areas in Southern Africa like Zambia. In particular, despite stockpiles running low, their efforts have vaccinated millions of people against the disease and implemented preparedness measures. Furthermore, the lessons learned from these outbreaks can be applied to future outbreaks of cholera and other diseases resurging thanks to climate change.