WHO: cholera cases soared globally by 58 % in May
Over 46,000 people contracted cholera in May 2024 –58 percent up than a month earlier – as noted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), assessing the risk of further spread of this disease as very high, TASS reports
The WHO newsletter stated that in May 2024, ‘a total of 46,364 new cholera cases were reported from 19 countries’ – showing a 58 percent increase from the previous month – and 185 cholera-related deaths. The Eastern Mediterranean Region registered the highest number of cases. Afghanistan and Pakistan saw 13,000 new cases.
According to the health organisation, from January 1st to May 24th, a cumulative total of 194,897 cholera cases and 1,932 deaths were reported from 24 countries across five WHO regions.
In January 2023, WHO classified the global resurgence of cholera as a grade 3 emergency – the highest level for emergencies.
“Based on the number of outbreaks and their geographic expansion, alongside the shortage of vaccines and other resources, WHO continues to assess the risk at the global level as very high and the event remains classified as a grade 3 emergency,” the newsletter read.
WHO noted that the demand for oral cholera vaccines continues to outpace the supply. From January 2023 to May 2024, the number of urgent requests for vaccines increased dramatically. Thus, 16 countries requested 92 million doses, while 49 million were produced during this period. As of June 10th, 2024, cholera vaccine reserves were estimated at 6.2 million doses worldwide.
