The number of cases and deaths due to cholera will increase greatly in 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday, although the outbreaks could have been “prevented” and that it is an “easily treatable” disease.

“Cholera killed over four thousand people in one year” while it is a “preventable and easily treatable disease”, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus insisted during a press conference.

The number of recorded cholera cases increased by 13% to 535,321, while that of deaths by 71% (4,000+) in 2023 compared to 2022, according to statistics released by the Organization.

The 2024the global risk of cholera outbreaks remains “very high”; 22 countries “currently reporting active epidemics,” noted Dr. Tree. Since the beginning of the year, more than 342,000 cases have been recorded and 2,400 deaths.

Worse, the numbers of cases and deaths are likely “underestimated,” said Philippe Barbosa, head of the WHO’s working group on cholera and other epidemic diseases that cause acute diarrhea. He explained that this is due to diagnostic gapsas the potential difference is chaotic from country to country.

The armed conflictsh climate changeh lack of drinking water and drainageh povertyh underdevelopment and forced displacement due to armed conflict and natural disasters are the factors that contributed to the increase in cholera outbreaks in 2023, the WHO listed in its announcement.

The geographic distribution of cholera “changed markedly” in 2023 compared to 2022: there was a 32% drop in cases in the Middle East and Asia, but a 125% jump in Africa.

2023 was the first year that cholera deaths outside health facilities (“deaths in the community”) were reported, attesting to “serious gaps in access to treatment,” the WHO said.

Huge need for more vaccines

Faced with this situation, the director-general of the WHO reiterated his call to increase vaccine production.

“About 36 million doses were produced last year, just half of what 14 affected countries have requested by October 2022,” summarized Dr. Tree.

Recalling that currently “there is only one cholera vaccine manufacturer, EuBiologics” (South Korea), he called on other pharmaceutical industries “planning to enter the market to accelerate their efforts”.

Besides, although vaccination is an “important tool”, it is “drinking water, sanitation and hygiene” that are “the only lasting and long-term solutions”, the WHO chief insisted.

Cholera, transmitted through contaminated food or water or feces containing the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, causes acute diarrhea and dehydration and can result in death within hours without treatment. It is more dangerous for children.