Africa is confronting its most severe cholera outbreak in more than two decades, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) warned on Thursday, citing a deadly combination of weak water infrastructure, climate shocks, and ongoing conflict across several regions. The continent has recorded more than 300,000 confirmed and suspected cholera cases in recent months, alongside over 7,000 deaths a 30% increase compared to the previous year, making this one of the deadliest public-health emergencies in Africa’s recent history. Health officials say countries such as Angola, Burundi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Malawi are experiencing sharp spikes driven by limited access to clean drinking water and widespread contamination of rivers and boreholes. Cholera spreads rapidly in communities where sewage systems are failing or nonexistent, a problem worsened by flooding and displacement.
There are improvements in some regions. The Africa CDC reports that case numbers in the Democratic Republic of Congo are now falling, signaling that emergency interventions are working. South Sudan and Somalia have also seen declining infections in several districts, though conflict-hit areas and overcrowded camps remain hotspots for transmission. In a separate health alert, Ethiopian authorities have detected eight suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever, with laboratory tests underway. Rapid response teams have been deployed to trace contacts and prevent further spread.
Meanwhile, the Africa CDC says the Mpox outbreak, though stabilizing in highly affected countries like the DRC, continues to pose threats in Kenya, Guinea, Liberia, and Ghana, where surveillance and vaccination efforts remain limited. Public-health experts warn that without major investment in water, sanitation, and disease surveillance systems, Africa will continue to face recurring outbreaks of cholera and other preventable diseases.
