Cholera outbreak in Angola

On January 7, 2025, the Ministry of Health in Angola declared a cholera outbreak¹. The first case was reported in Cacuaco Municipality, Luanda Province. This is the country’s first cholera outbreak since 2018².

As of January 15, a total of 332 cases have been recorded, of which 66 are confirmed cases. Twenty deaths have also been reported. Notably, 50% of the deaths are young children aged 0-9 years. The high case fatality rate emphasizes the critical need for immediate action at the community and healthcare levels¹.

By mid-January, the outbreak has spread to three provinces: Bengo, Luanda, and Icolo e Bengo. Luanda Province has recorded the highest case load (259 suspected cases)¹. In addition to poor sanitation and limited access to clean water, heavy rainfall and flooding could further exacerbate cholera transmission. It is vital to ensure that affected and at-risk populations have access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation to rapidly control the outbreak.