Multiple African nations battle widespread Cholera outbreaks

AFRICA – In February 2025, the African Region reported 17,932 new cholera cases across 13 countries, with the highest number of cases from South Sudan (6,515), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (4,751), and Angola (3,833).

Additionally, there were 370 cholera-related deaths, reflecting a 25% increase compared with January. The highest numbers of deaths were reported in Angola (135), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (110) and South Sudan (85).

Cholera is a foodborne and waterborne disease transmitted by consuming contaminated food and drink, with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

Within the affected countries, conflict, mass displacement, disasters from natural hazards, and climate change have intensified outbreaks, particularly in rural and flood-affected areas, where poor infrastructure and limited healthcare access delay treatment.

According to the World Health Organization, these cross-border factors have made cholera outbreaks increasingly complex and more challenging to control.

Angola grapples with escalating crisis as cases near 8000

As of March 20, cholera remains a severe public health threat in Angola, particularly in densely populated urban areas, with the country reporting over 7,950 cases and 298 deaths across 14 provinces and a case fatality rate of 3.8%.

Around 95% of all cases are reported from three adjacent provinces of Luanda, Bengo, and Icolo e Bengo.

To address the outbreak, WHO, UNICEF, the Red Cross, and the World Bank have supported Angola by enhancing health professionals’ capacity, distributing water treatment solutions, implementing basic sanitation measures, mobilising communities, and conducting vaccination campaigns.

Recently, WHO provided specialised training to over 20 data management professionals as part of the national effort to control the epidemic.

Dr Zabulon Yoti, WHO’s Acting Representative in Angola, commented on the training, saying, “This is crucial for improving case mapping, strengthening our surveillance efforts, and significantly enhancing our response to the cholera outbreak…Effective data management is a cornerstone in our fight against cholera.”

As part of immediate response, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health have also come together to mitigate the spread by installing treatment tents to ensure that infected patients receive the emergency treatment they need in their locality.

Additionally, they have also invested heavily in prevention, community mobilisation and training of volunteers to ensure that information and solutions reach those who need it most.
They further checked the community’s hygiene practices, such as handwashing points and how their latrines were built, including conducting water quality control analyses.

Fragile health systems worsen crisis in DRC, South Sudan

Beyond Angola, the cholera crisis continues to unfold in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, where fragile health systems and inadequate sanitation are worsening the situation.

In the DRC, the provinces facing an increase in cases are Haut-Katanga, Haut-Lomami, Lualaba, North Kivu, and South Kivu.

In Kirotshe, North Kivu, nearly all health infrastructures have been destroyed or looted, with 29 out of 31 health centres left inoperable due to the ongoing violence.

To address the lack of proper water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities worsening the crisis, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has deployed water, sanitation and hygiene services in Goma and Kahele, to improve access for vulnerable communities.

The IRC has further built latrines for 50 people in Sake, with their teams in Goma preparing to launch water trucking in Budjovu and Katoyi, to meet critical needs for drinking water.

In South Sudan, Unity, Central Equatoria, and Northern Bahr el Ghazal reported the highest case burden.

Currently, the WHO is providing technical support for case management training to be held in South Sudan in anticipation of the upcoming rainy season.

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