UNICEF staff conduct health promotion in Lebanese communities to help stop the spread of cholera.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said today that the global risk of cholera outbreaks remains "very high" compared to January last year, given the high number of cholera cases around the world, increased geographical distribution, and the shortage of resources such as vaccines.
Cholera is a severe, acute diarrheal infection characterized by severe watery diarrhea and potentially fatal dehydration. It is caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. Most people don't have symptoms, or only mild symptoms; Less than 20% of patients develop acute watery diarrhoea with moderate or severe dehydration and are at risk of rapid fluid loss, dehydration, and death.
Although cholera is easily treated with rehydration solutions, it remains a global threat due to its high morbidity and mortality among vulnerable populations who lack adequate health care. Climate change is also making the situation more difficult. Extreme weather events, such as floods, hurricanes and droughts, have prevented access to clean water and created an ideal environment for cholera.
The global pandemic continues to worsen
Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made in global cholera control. But from 2021 to the present, cholera cases are on the rise again, even in countries that have not had cholera outbreaks for many years.
In 2022, cholera cases were reported in 44 countries, a 25% increase from 2021. This trend has continued, and the recent cholera outbreak has become more deadly, with case fatalities at record high in more than a decade.
According to the latest WHO report, 146 000 cholera cases and 1,766 deaths were reported from 24 countries between 1 January and 28 April this year, with the African Region having the highest number of cases, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean, the Americas, South-East Asia and Europe. During this period, no outbreaks were reported in the Western Pacific.
There is an acute shortage of vaccines
The report notes that the cholera response continues to be affected by a severe shortage of oral cholera vaccines. Since January 2023, there has been a surge in oral cholera vaccine applications, with 15 countries requesting 82 million doses, almost double the oral cholera vaccine production (46 million doses) during this period. In early March, global vaccine stocks ran out. As of May 6, the number of vaccines in stock stood at 3.2 million, well below the global stockpile target of 5 million doses.
Limited global stockpiles of oral cholera vaccine underscore the need for increased production and strategic stockpile management. On 12 April this year, WHO prequalified a new oral cholera vaccine, Euvichol-S, which is similar in efficacy to existing vaccines, but with a simplified formulation and is expected to increase production capacity.
risk assessment
In January 2023, WHO classified the global recurrence of cholera outbreaks as a Level 3 emergency, the highest emergency level within the organization.
Based on the frequency and geographical scope of the outbreaks, as well as shortages of vaccines and other resources, WHO has assessed the global risk of cholera outbreaks as "very high" in its latest report and remains classified as a Level 3 emergency.
WHO is urgently responding to help countries contain the outbreak and reduce the number of deaths.
