Cholera outbreak (Photo Courtesy: MOH Zambia)
Every year, approximately 4.0 million cases and 143,000 deaths due to cholera are recorded globally, of which at least 54% are from Africa. In 2021 the average case fatality rate (CFR) was 2.8%. Cholera is also one of the pathogens prioritized by the Africa CDC for preparedness and response.
Writing on his X account, Hon. Dr. Jean Kaseya stated, “I am deeply concerned about the cholera crisis in the Southern Africa region. Over 2,000 lives have been lost, and 42,000 cases reported since January 1, 2024. The countries affected include, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Urgent action is needed.”
Through the Africa CDC Southern Regional Coordinating Centre, Africa CDC has deployed 15 technical assistance officers to support the Coordination, Surveillance, Infection Prevention and Control, Case Management, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and Social and Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) interventions in the affected areas. The team will work with the Ministry of Health Zambia, ZNPHI, and partners to strengthen government efforts to control and end the cholera outbreak.
Africa CDC has the mandate to strengthen regional and country capacities to detect and respond to outbreaks including Cholera. Supported by a grant from BMGF, managed by APHF, the Africa CDC Institute of Pathogen Genomics’ Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI) aims to enhance disease surveillance and public health partnerships through integrated, cross-continent laboratory networks equipped with the tools, human resource capacity and data infrastructure to fully leverage critical genomic sequencing technologies.
