As cholera continues to surge globally and vaccines remain scarce, experts are sounding the alarm about the widespread risk.
Cholera, a bacterial infection usually transmitted through contaminated food and water, causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. Its incidence has been steadily increasing worldwide since 2021.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are between 1.3 to 4 million cholera cases reported globally each year, resulting in approximately 21,000 to 143,000 deaths.
In 2022, WHO reported around 473,000 cases, doubling the previous year’s count. And for 2023, projections suggest reported cases may surpass 700,000.
Dr. Renuga Vivekanandan, a professor at Creighton University School of Medicine, expressed concern about the rise in cholera cases, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The countries most affected, as highlighted by UNICEF, include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Although cholera was prevalent in the U.S. in the 1800s, improved water treatment systems have largely eradicated the disease. However, the CDC notes rare cases linked to consuming raw or undercooked shellfish from the Gulf of Mexico, mostly associated with travel exposure.
So, why the sudden surge in global cases?
Cholera typically spreads through contaminated water or food, especially in areas with inadequate water and sewage treatment. Despite not being directly transmitted from person to person, its rapid spread is facilitated by these gaps in sanitation and water access, as highlighted by UNICEF.
