Angola’s Ministry of Health has declared a cholera outbreak, with 119 cases and 12 fatalities reported as of Friday evening. The ministry confirmed 14 cases through laboratory testing, while 12 additional samples are still under examination.
The outbreak was officially declared on January 7, 2025, following the first confirmed case. According to health officials, symptoms were initially observed in a patient on December 31, 2024. In response, the Ministry of Health has activated a national cholera response strategy to contain the spread of the disease.
Key measures include enhanced surveillance, public awareness campaigns, and water sanitation initiatives. Efforts to ensure the supply of safe drinking water have involved distributing calcium hypochlorite and disinfecting water storage tanks in affected areas.
Despite these efforts, the ministry identified critical challenges, including poor sanitation in outbreak zones and a lack of clean water systems in high-risk regions, which have exacerbated the spread.
In the last 24 hours, 24 new cases were recorded, with 20 of them concentrated in Cacuaco Municipality, a densely populated area in Luanda Province. Cacuaco, home to over 1.2 million residents, is the epicenter of the outbreak and has accounted for 11 of the 12 reported deaths.
Of the total cases, 53% are women and 47% are men. The Ministry of Health’s bulletin emphasized that cholera is spreading rapidly in areas with inadequate infrastructure, posing a significant public health challenge.
Cholera is a waterborne disease that can cause severe dehydration and death if left untreated. Suspected cases in Angola are defined as individuals with acute watery diarrhea, with or without vomiting, in areas where cholera is present. Confirmed cases require laboratory isolation of the cholera bacterium in stool samples.
Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant, follow hygiene protocols, and report any symptoms immediately to health centers. The ministry has reassured the public of its commitment to controlling the outbreak, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to prevent further fatalities.
Further updates are expected as health officials continue to monitor and respond to the situation.