WHO warns against increasing cases of cholera in Cameroon, Africa.

According to the report read by Dr Moeti, as of January 29,2023, an estimated 26,000 cases and 660 deaths have been reported in some 10 African countries and if the current trend continues, it could surpass the number recorded in 2021, thus being the worst Africa has had in a decade.

“We are witnessing a worrying scenario where conflict and extreme climatic events are worsening the triggers of cholera and increasing its toll on lives,” Dr Moeti said.

This situation, he said, has made it critical for African countries to scale up readiness to quickly detect cases and mount comprehensive and timely response against cholera.

Africa, the official said, is currently experiencing a terrible rise in the number of cholera cases. As of January, he regretted, the data of the disease stood at some 30 percent increase which is higher than the data gotten for the whole of last year.

The first month of 2023 alone, he lamented, has already reached over 30% of the total number of cases recorded in 2022. Last year, about 80,000 cholera cases and 1863 deaths were recorded in 15 countries.

Most new infections and deaths, the report further disclosed, were recorded in Malawi, which is facing its worst outbreak in 20 years.

Cases were equally recorded in Cameroon, Mozambique, Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC. 

Dr Moeti blamed the rise in the number of cholera cases on government’s concentration on other diseases such as COVID-19 pandemic and poliomyelitis, and also because of the fact that resources which could be used to get the people access to potable water have been channeled to solving armed conflicts thus neglecting the aspects.

“Every death due to cholera is preventable,” said Dr Moeti. “This disease is as much a health challenge as it is a development one. As such investments in better sanitation and access to safe water formidably complement the public health initiatives to sustainably control and end cholera”. 

Cholera, Dr Moeti explained is spread through contaminated water, as such there is an urgent need for potable water wherever there is an acute epidemic. This, he said, will help prevent transmission.

He went on to call on countries at risk of cholera epidemics to intensify surveillance so that cases can be identified and managed as a matter of urgency.

According to the officials, some 65 experts have been deployed to five African countries, with 40 alone to Malawi, where nearly 37,000 cholera cases and 1,210 deaths have been reported in all 29 districts since last March. 

WHO, he said, has distributed cholera kits and other supplies including oral rehydration salts, IV fluids, antibiotics, rapid diagnostic test kits, personal protective equipment, tents and cholera beds. Cholera statistics in Cameroon as of January 24 stands at 15,157 cases with some 303 deaths.