Cholera Outbreaks Confirmed in 24 Countries

The World Health Organization (WHO) published External Situation Report #3 on June 1, 2023, confirming that cholera outbreaks are ongoing in 24 countries.

Since April 2023, further cholera spread has continued to be reported in the Horn of Africa, especially around the Mandera triangle, where the borders of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia meet.

As of June 5, 2023, the WHO says the overall capacity to respond to the multiple and simultaneous cholera outbreaks continues to be strained due to the global lack of resources, including shortages of oral cholera vaccines.

Based on the increasing number of outbreaks and their geographic expansion, as well as a lack of vaccines and other resources, WHO continues to assess the risk at the global level as very high. 

The WHO has recorded Seven distinct Cholera pandemics over the past two centuries. The seventh pandemic, which remains active in 2023, is considered to have started in 1961.

The global burden of Cholera is unknown mainly because most cases are not reported.

However, the WHO reported the average cholera fatality rate in 2021 was 1.9% (2.9% in Africa). Furthermore, preliminary WHO data suggest a similar unfortunate trend for 2022 and 2023. 

Cholera, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, is rare in the U.S.

Nearly all cholera cases reported in the U.S. are acquired during international travel.

For example, as of December 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed (8) travelers infected with Cholera arrived from Pakistan, Iraq, and Bangladesh. 

In December 2020, the maker of the cholera vaccine, CVD 103-HgR (Vaxchora), temporarily stopped making and selling it. As a result, this vaccine is currently unavailable in the U.S.

Other cholera vaccines, such as the oral DUKORAL® vaccine, are available in various countries.