Amid a surge in cholera cases across the continent, African health authorities are looking to lessons learned from the mpox outbreak to strengthen their response to the ongoing epidemic. Cholera has now affected 16 countries, with Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Sudan bearing the brunt of the crisis.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is promoting a coordinated response to cholera, inspired by the strategies used to contain mpox, which has shown signs of slowing down thanks to a continent-wide effort involving multiple health partners.
UNICEF reports that between January 2024 and March 2025, over 178,000 cholera cases and more than 1,600 related deaths have been recorded in Eastern and Southern Africa. The four hardest-hit countries—Angola, DRC, South Sudan, and Sudan—account for over 90% of total cases. In South Sudan alone, more than 22,000 cases and 470 deaths have been reported, while DRC and Angola have each recorded tens of thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths.
Dr Ngashi Ngongo, Principal Advisor to the Director General of Africa CDC, said that the region is adopting a more unified approach to health emergencies. “We are applying the lessons from mpox—particularly the importance of strong partnerships—to fight cholera more effectively,” he said. The approach includes strengthening health systems, improving disease surveillance, and expanding local manufacturing of medical supplies.
The mpox outbreak, declared a health emergency in August 2024 by both Africa CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO), spread to 23 countries. It is currently active in 16, of which 10 have received vaccines. The response has been coordinated by an Incident Management Support Team (IMST) jointly led by Africa CDC and WHO, with support from 26 partners including UNICEF, Gavi, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Under Dr Ngongo’s leadership, the IMST has become a model for managing cross-border outbreaks. Operating under the “Four Ones” principle—One Team, One Plan, One Budget, One Monitoring Framework—the IMST has expanded its scope to address multiple diseases, including measles and chickenpox.
As the IMST enters its second phase, its focus is shifting to long-term health system resilience. Dr Ngongo noted that surveillance and laboratory capabilities are being bolstered to help tackle other health threats, including the current cholera epidemic. “We’re evolving the IMST to take on cholera, applying the same coordinated, multi-partner approach,” he said.
However, experts stress that beyond emergency response, addressing root causes like poor water and sanitation infrastructure remains essential. The role of insecurity and conflict in fuelling cholera outbreaks also cannot be overlooked.
Additionally, there is growing support for strengthening Africa’s capacity to produce and procure cholera vaccines. Advocates are calling for enhanced collaboration with the Global Task Force on Cholera Control, a coalition of over 50 organisations working to eliminate the disease.