The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an alert this week regarding the increase in cholera cases around the world. According to the entity, in 2022, more than twice as many cases of the disease were recorded as in 2021 – 472,697 compared to 223,370. In addition, 44 countries reported notifications of the disease – a 25% increase compared to the 35 countries that reported cases in 2021.
“Not only were there more outbreaks, but the outbreaks were larger,” highlighted the WHO. The data shows that seven countries – Afghanistan, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria and the Arab Republic – reported more than 10,000 suspected or confirmed cases last year. “The bigger the outbreak, the harder it is typically to control.”
The numbers suggest that, in 2023, the increase in cases is expected to continue – currently, 24 countries have already confirmed ongoing cholera outbreaks, with some of them facing what the WHO calls “acute crises” caused by the disease.
The entity recalled that cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and water contaminated with feces containing the bacteria.Vibrio choleraeand that the situation is closely linked to the lack of drinking water and adequate sanitation, poverty and conflicts.
“Climate change also plays a role in this resurgence, as extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and cyclones trigger new outbreaks and worsen existing ones.”
Furthermore, the increase in the search for mechanisms to combat cholera represents what the entity classifies as a challenge for efforts to control diseases around the world.
Since October last year, the International Coordination Group (ICG), the body that manages the emergency supply of vaccines – chose to suspend the standard two-dose vaccination schedule in response campaigns to cholera outbreaks, using a single-dose approach instead.
With information from Agência Brasil
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