Africa is facing its worst cholera outbreak in a quarter century, with cases surging in several countries and straining fragile health systems, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said Thursday.
More than 300,000 cholera cases have been reported across the continent so far this year, up from roughly 254,000 cases in 2024, marking an increase of more than 30%, according to Africa CDC data. Over 7,000 deaths have been recorded.
Speaking at the agency’s weekly virtual briefing, Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya said cholera remains a “major issue” for African nations, with trends showing a yearly rise in infections, fatalities, and the number of affected countries.
“We need to fully operationalize the cholera response plan launched in Zambia to stop the trend that we are seeing in Africa,” Kaseya said, referring to the regional plan running from September 2025 to February 2026. The strategy includes surveillance, case management, vaccination, logistics, and community engagement.
According to Africa CDC, Angola and Burundi have witnessed sharp increases in recent weeks, largely driven by poor and fragile water systems. Kaseya emphasized that without clean water, containing cholera remains extremely difficult, adding that the agency is working with governments to improve access.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, conflict and displacement continue to worsen the outbreak, though officials noted a slight decline in cases this week.
Cholera, a bacterial disease transmitted through contaminated water or food, has affected 23 African countries this year.