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Friday, 15 August 2025
WHO PALAIS BRIEFING NOTES
Kathryn Alberti, WHO Technical Officer for cholera
Update on the global cholera situation
Dear journalists,
Please find below the press briefing notes as delivered at the UN palais press briefing this morning 15 August in Geneva on the global cholera situation .
Good morning,
The global cholera situation continues to deteriorate, driven by conflict and poverty.
This year, more than 390 000 (390 723) cholera cases and 4300 (4332) deaths have been reported across 31 countries. These figures are underestimates, but they reflect a collective failure: cholera is preventable and easily treatable, yet it continues to claim lives.
We are especially concerned about cholera in Sudan, Chad; in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; South Sudan; and Yemen. In all these countries, conflict is fuelling cholera.
One year after the start of the outbreak in Sudan, cholera has reached every state. This year alone, there have been nearly 50 000 (48 768) cases and over 1000 (1094) deaths reported, with a high fatality rate of 2.2%, exceeding the 1% threshold which indicates adequate treatment.
While cases have plateaued or decreased in some areas, including Khartoum, they are rising in the Darfur region, and affecting neighboring Chad.
In Tawila, North Darfur, refugees have quadrupled the population from 200,000 to 800,000, straining water and sanitation systems. People have as little as 3 litres (think of that) of water daily on average—for drinking, cooking, washing, and cleaning.
In neighbouring Chad where the first case was reported just over 1 month ago, there have been just over 500 cases and 30 deaths reported from both camps and host communities in bordering Ouadai province.
The rainy season has started and is expected to worsen, WHO has stepped up its response in the Darfur region and neighbouring Chad, anticipating worsening sanitation and flooded roads which will affect access both for aid workers and supplies.
Working alongside partners, we’ve established national and local task forces, deployed rapid response teams for surveillance, and stockpiled essential cholera supplies in the region. Thanks to joint efforts, 17 cholera treatment centres with a total capacity of 670 beds are operational in Darfur. We have strengthened surveillance, trained health workers on clinical care and infection control, funded water quality testing and are coordinating cross-border public health efforts with Chad.
But violence and bureaucracy are blocking access. Large parts of Darfur and Kordofan remain unreachable.
Since December, oral cholera vaccine production has hit record levels – 6 million doses monthly, the highest since 2013 – thanks to new formulations. But record production has been outpaced by record demand.
Since January, the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG) has received 38 requests from 12 countries—triple the number compared to the same period last year. Already this year, over 40 million doses have been allocated, compared to 35 million doses allocated in all of 2024.
More than 85% of approved doses this year are for countries facing humanitarian crises, with the largest share (a third of total) going to Sudan.
Sudan is not the only country of concern.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, over 44 521 cases and 1238 deaths have been reported this year, mostly in the conflict-affected east.
In South Sudan, nearly 70 310 cases and over 1158 deaths.
In Yemen, over 60 794 cases and 164 deaths.
These figures have two things in common: one, they are too high, too many people have been affected, and two, they are driven by conflict.
Conflict is forcing people to flee, often into crowded camps where water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are stretched. And the overall response is crippled with overextended human resources, gaps in data and serious funding shortfalls.
WHO urges governments and the international community to:
· Mobilize urgent funding.
· Support rapid deployment of vaccines and supplies, and safe access for aid workers.
· Invest in long-term prevention through water and sanitation, and stronger surveillance systems.
No one should die because they don’t have access to safe water.
Useful link:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/cholera-upsurge
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