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The cholera outbreak in the WHO African Region in 2024 has affected 18 countries (Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe). The situation is particularly severe in three countries –The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria with Tanzania currently categorized as being in acute crisis.

The Western and Eastern subregions of the continent, now in the rainy season, are beginning to experience a resurgence in cholera outbreaks. The El Nino phenomenon caused droughts in countries like Zambia and Zimbabwe and increased rainfall levels, causing floods and landslides in some communities of Kenya and Tanzania. This can exacerbate the increase in cholera cases and raise the risk of outbreaks in districts and countries that have not reported new confirmed cases or previously controlled cholera outbreaks. The seasonality of cholera outbreaks continues to be an issue for countries to consider. There is a need for member states to improve cholera preparedness and readiness, heightened surveillance, and scale up preventive and control measures in communities and around border crossings. This also calls for prompt identification of cases and institution of management from the communities with the establishment of oral rehydration points (ORPs) and referral to cholera treatment centres/units (CTCs/CTUs). These actions will prevent outbreaks, engender early response, and reduce cross-border transmission.

Since the beginning of the year 2024, the number of cholera cases and deaths reported to the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) as of 31 October was 139 081 and 2 590 respectively, with a case fatality ratio of 1.9%. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe account for 78.5% (109 193) of the total cases and 86.7% (2 245) of total deaths reported this year.

In October 2024, eleven countries – Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Togo, South Sudan, and the United Republic of Tanzania – reported a total of 8 387 new cases and 165 deaths (CFR = 2.0%).

As of 31 October 2024, a cumulative total of 426 440 cholera cases, including 7 716 deaths (CFR: 1.8%), have been reported since 1 January 2022. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Nigeria account for 72.2% (307 696) of all cumulative cases and 66.7% (5 143) deaths reported. Transmission is currently active in 11 countries.