The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that cholera has killed more than 3,000 people globally since the beginning of 2026, with Africa accounting for nearly 90 per cent of the fatalities.
The WHO, in a statement on Tuesday, warned that despite a decline in reported deaths during the first nine months of the year, cholera remains a major public health threat, particularly in countries with poor access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.
According to Lorenzo Pezzoli, the WHO’s lead for epidemic-prone bacterial diseases, the disease claimed nearly 7,900 lives in 2025, making it the deadliest year for cholera since 1999.
He, however, expressed optimism that the global target of reducing cholera cases by 90 per cent by 2030 remains achievable through sustained vaccination campaigns, improved sanitation and increased access to clean water.
The WHO also raised concerns that the prevailing El Niño weather pattern could worsen cholera outbreaks, as extreme weather conditions, including flooding and water shortages, can increase the spread of the disease.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by the consumption of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Although preventable and treatable, the disease can cause severe dehydration and death within hours if patients do not receive prompt medical attention.
Pezzoli noted that cholera treatment is relatively simple and inexpensive when administered early, despite the disease’s potential to become fatal within a short period.
He said the WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, were working towards eliminating cholera as a public health threat through mass vaccination programmes, improved disease surveillance and better access to safe water and sanitation.
As part of the intervention, the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision approved the supply of 71 million cholera vaccine doses in 2025, with funding support from Gavi.
The WHO said vaccines and rapid diagnostic tests were also being delivered to outbreak-affected communities more quickly to strengthen early detection and response.
It identified Angola, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen as seven countries that accounted for approximately 90 per cent of global cholera cases and deaths in 2025.
However, Pezzoli acknowledged that interventions by the WHO and its partners were producing results but said more efforts were needed to achieve the 2030 elimination target.
He urged governments and development partners to strengthen their response, particularly in vulnerable communities where inadequate water supply and sanitation continue to expose residents to cholera infections.
