Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), reported that the number of reported deaths related to the cholera epidemic increased by 71 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, and the number of cases increased by 13 percent.
Ghebreyesus assessed the cholera epidemic at WHO’s weekly press briefing.
Recalling that WHO today released new data on the cholera epidemic for 2023, Ghebreyesus drew attention to the increase in the number of cases and deaths associated with the disease.
Ghebreyesus said, “Last year, the number of reported deaths related to the cholera epidemic increased by 71 percent and the number of cases increased by 13 percent compared to 2022. Cholera, a preventable and easily treatable disease, caused 4,000 deaths.”
Noting that conflict, climate change, unsafe water and sanitation, poverty and forced displacement are effective in increasing the cholera epidemic, Ghebreyesus said, “The geographic distribution of cholera has also changed significantly. Cases in the Middle East and Asia have dropped by one in three, while cases in Africa have more than doubled.
Ghebreyesus said that initial data show that the cholera epidemic continues in 2024 and is active in 22 countries, explaining that more than 342,000 cholera cases and 2,400 deaths have been reported to WHO so far this year.
Ghebreyesus also said that the global cholera crisis has caused a serious shortage of cholera vaccines, stressing that more doses of vaccine will be requested in response to the epidemic between 2021 and 2023 than in the entire previous 10 years.
“About 36 million doses of cholera vaccine were produced last year, which is only half the amount needed by the 14 affected countries,” Ghebreyesus said.
Noting that EUBiologics is the only producer of cholera vaccines, Ghebreyesus called on other manufacturers planning to enter the vaccine market to accelerate their efforts and provide doses at affordable prices.
“While vaccination is an important tool, safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene remain the only long-term and sustainable solution to end cholera outbreaks and prevent future outbreaks,” Ghebreyesus said.
Source :AA
