Conferences & International Events
A recent study on the cost of cholera in Somalia illustrates that strengthened prevention strategies could save lives while yielding significant economic offsets - relieving the financial burden borne by households and health facilities.
About cholera epidemics
On October 28, 2024, the South Sudan Ministry of Health declared a cholera outbreak in Renk, Upper Nile State. The outbreak is driven by several converging factors including cross-border transmission from Sudan, limited access to WASH services, flooding, and population displacement. With cholera cases already reported in cities throughout the country, rapid control of the outbreak is critical to prevent further spread.
About cholera epidemics
Zimbabwe recently experienced a large-scale cholera outbreak, with a total of 34,549 suspected cholera cases reported from 2023 to 2024. A recent perspective has assessed the health implications of the cholera outbreak on the population in Zimbabwe and proposed a set of recommendations and future directions.
About cholera epidemics
A cholera outbreak has been declared in Ghana, with 93 suspected cases and 1 death reported as of October 11, 2024. The last major cholera epidemic in Ghana occurred in 2014-2015.
About cholera epidemics
In 2023, Africa experienced a 125% increase in cholera cases and a 62% increase in cholera deaths compared with 2022. The WHO has made several recommendations to address this escalating health crisis.
Conferences & International Events
The One Health International Symposium took place in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in May 2024 to accelerate the integration of One Health approaches to address public health challenges in Africa. In addition to the official launch of the One Health Institute for Africa, several significant resolutions emerged during the symposium that collectively aim to bolster One Health efforts in the region.
About cholera epidemics
Cholera continues to represent a major public health concern in Ethiopia; however, the epidemiology of cholera in this country remains poorly understood. A recent study has established a comprehensive understanding of cholera dynamics and hotspots in Ethiopia over the period 2015 to 2021.
Conferences & International Events
From May 28 to 30, 2024, the "One Health" International Symposium will be held in Kinshasa (DRC). This is an opportunity to celebrate 10 years of teaching One Health concepts within the Master in Ecology of Infectious Diseases organized by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Kinshasa.
A recent study by Taty et al., published in BMC Infectious Diseases, has identified and classified cholera hotspots in the DRC to optimize cholera elimination strategies in the country.
About cholera epidemics
Cholera is spreading rapidly across Eastern and Southern Africa. The disease has most recently affected the country of Comoros, where the Ministry of Health declared a cholera outbreak on February 2, 2024.
About cholera epidemics
The cholera outbreak in Zambia has quickly spread throughout the country. As of January 26, 2024, a total of 14,900 suspected cholera cases and 560 cholera-related deaths have been reported in the country. This public health emergency is not restricted to Zambia, as many countries throughout Africa have reported an increase in cholera cases.
In a recent Commentary published in Pan African Medical Journal, Taty et al. discuss the cholera resurgence in Africa potentially induced by the climate consequences of El Niño. The authors urgently call for strengthened efforts to control and prevent the disease.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The government of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) launches an ambitious plan to eliminate cholera in the country.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a study shows that the exacerbation of conflict and the number of internally displaced people in endemic areas are increasing the risk of cholera spreading.
About cholera epidemics
Because of the war that erupted in April 2023, the country is experiencing unprecedented mass displacement of civilians and the health system is overwhelmed and on the verge of collapse in certain areas.
About cholera epidemics
The ongoing cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe started on February 12, 2023. By the end of August, a total of 3,894 suspected cholera cases had been reported.
Democratic Republic of Congo
A recent study assesses the characteristics of cholera epidemics in the DRC over the past 22 years, to measure the effects of elimination plans on disease dynamics and draw lessons from them.
About cholera epidemics
With less than 100 new cases per day nationwide, the current context represents a window of opportunity to control the epidemic using a targeted and rapid response approach.
About cholera epidemics
The current cholera epidemic in Ethiopia is among the longest ever recorded in the country. As of July 4, 2023, a total of 12,613 suspected cholera cases have been reported across four regions in southern Ethiopia.
About cholera epidemics
Although the epidemic has significantly subsided since December 2022, public health actors should continue to focus on controlling the few ongoing outbreaks and remain vigilant regarding cross-border transmission from neighboring Syria.
About cholera epidemics
Over a million people across eight provinces in Mozambique have been affected by the compound crisis of Cyclone Freddy, floods and cholera. As of April 23, 2023, a total of 28,410 suspected cholera cases have been reported in 10 of 11 provinces in the country.
About cholera epidemics
Malawi is currently experiencing one of the worst cholera outbreaks in the country’s history, with a total of 56,090 suspected cases reported over the past year. Although case numbers have gradually decreased since January, the effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy are threatening sustainable improvements in the cholera response.
About cholera epidemics
In areas affected by cholera, conflict can further drive cholera diffusion and hinder outbreak response efforts. A recent study by Charnley et al. has assessed the association between conflict and cholera in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past 23 years.
Conferences & International Events
At the end of January, a workshop was held in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to assess the impact of water supply infrastructure improvements on cholera and diarrhoeal diseases in Uvira.
About cholera epidemics
According to the WHO’s current cholera assessment, the risk of cholera at the global level is very high. In 2022, the disease has spread to many countries not affected for several years or decades.
About cholera epidemics
The cholera outbreak in Syria that was declared in September of this year continues to spread throughout the country, with a total of 46,409 suspected cases reported as of November 19. An oral cholera vaccine campaign is planned.
About cholera epidemics
The cholera outbreak in Syria, which started on September 10, 2022, has quickly spread throughout the country and into neighboring Lebanon. Lebanon, which has reported over 200 confirmed cases since October 6, had not been affected by a cholera outbreak since 1993.
About cholera epidemics
After over three years without a single cholera case in Haiti, the Ministry of Public Health and Population has reported two confirmed cases of cholera and several suspected cases in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area on October 2, 2022. The cholera outbreak has erupted against a backdrop of a complex humanitarian crisis with major socio-political unrest, which significantly challenges the outbreak response.
About cholera epidemics
Against the backdrop of an ongoing civil war and severe drought conditions, the Syrian Ministry of Health has declared an outbreak of cholera on September 10, 2022. Urgent action is needed to stop the outbreak, which presents a serious public health threat to people throughout Syria as well as the surrounding region.
About cholera epidemics
A cholera outbreak continues in South Sudan, with 314 cholera cases reported from March to the first week of August. The majority of cases have been reported from the Bentiu IDP camp in Rubkona County, which has previously been identified as a cholera hotspot.
About cholera epidemics
On April 23, 2022, the Government of Tanzania reported cholera cases in Uvinza District and Tanganyika District, both located in the west of the country. Approximately 40% of cases are children under five years of age.
About cholera epidemics
During the cholera outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2017, a study conducted in South Kivu Province has investigated how the outbreak affected the population’s handwashing behavior.
About cholera epidemics
On April 11, 2022, Zambia reported the first cholera outbreak in the country since 2019. Two of the three districts affected had been previously identified as cholera hotspots during a 2018 study (Lusaka and Nsama Districts). The lack of adequate sanitation and access to safe drinking water in the affected areas pose a risk of further disease transmission.
About cholera epidemics
The Central African country of Cameroon is currently experiencing a cholera epidemic at a scale not seen for over a decade. As of April 3, the country has reported 4,634 cholera cases and 105 deaths, and violence in the most affected region has hindered humanitarian aid.
Putting water and sanitation back at the heart of strategies for the elimination of cholera and the control of other diarrhoeal diseases
About cholera epidemics
After reporting over 820,000 cholera cases and nearly 10,000 deaths in Haiti, the last confirmed cholera case in the country was observed in February 2019. Three years later, on February 4, 2022, the Haitian authorities have finally celebrated the elimination of cholera and are expecting the official certificate of elimination.
About cholera epidemics
In 2021, Nigeria experienced the worst cholera epidemic to affect the country in recent history, with a total of 111,062 suspected cases and 3,604 deaths.
About cholera epidemics
In a recent article, Dr. Rebaudet and colleagues describe how case-area targeted interventions conducted by rapid response teams played a key role in stopping cholera transmission in the country.
About cholera epidemics
Africa has been affected by several prolonged and extreme droughts. Drought has been found to facilitate cholera transmission through a variety of potential mechanisms. Charnley et al. discuss the drought-specific mechanisms that play a role in cholera outbreaks and the effects of climate change on future droughts and cholera outbreaks.
About cholera epidemics
Nigeria is experiencing the worst cholera epidemic to affect the country in recent history. As of September 19, a total of 81,413 suspected cholera cases, including 2,791 deaths, have been reported in Nigeria this year.
A new research document from Agence française de développement
About cholera epidemics
In Nigeria, a total of 17,512 suspected cholera cases have been reported during the first half of this year. The ongoing epidemic threatens to exceed the death toll from previous years.
Conferences & International Events
The 8th annual meeting of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) covered the recent activities and achievements of the GTFCC and the working groups.
About cholera epidemics
Emergency
About cholera epidemics
The cholera epidemic in Yemen continues to represent one of the worst cholera epidemics in recent history, with over 2.5 million suspected cases reported since 2016.
About cholera epidemics
Case-area targeted interventions prevent cholera spread by focusing control measures on clusters of cases.
About cholera epidemics
Cholera cases have not been reported in Haiti since January 2019. The country that was once heavily burdened by the disease is now one year away from officially declaring cholera elimination.
A phone-based tool to support the implementation of the Ending Cholera Global Roadmap.
About cholera epidemics
Forcibly displaced populations are often affected by infectious diseases such as acute respiratory infections, diarrhea, measles, and malaria. A recent study by Desai et al. has described the range of pathogens affecting forcibly displaced populations from 1996 to 2016.
Conferences & International Events
The GTFCC virtual event held this summer highlighted the progress made by cholera-affected countries, including Zambia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Haiti and Bangladesh. The event was organized in observance of the 73rd World Health Assembly.
About cholera epidemics
Ethiopia is currently experiencing a cholera epidemic, with at least 6,789 suspected cases reported from January to August 2020. Against a backdrop of multiple humanitarian crises in the country, including flooding, poor access to clean drinking water and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to quickly control the current cholera outbreaks.
About cholera epidemics
The ongoing cholera epidemic in Yemen is considered one of the worst cholera epidemics in recent history, and the already strained efforts to control the epidemic in this war-torn country have been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
About cholera epidemics
No news is good news. In Haiti, no new cases of cholera have been confirmed for 15 months.
About cholera epidemics
During late-2017 in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a cholera outbreak emerged that showed potential to spread throughout the city. In a recent publication in BMC Infectious Diseases, Bompangue and colleagues describe a novel targeted water and hygiene response strategy that was implemented to quickly stem the outbreak.
About cholera epidemics
A recent study has investigated the association between cholera and food insecurity in 30 low- and middle-income countries. The results showed a relationship between annual cholera incidence and overall national food security, availability and affordability.
About cholera epidemics
To prevent cholera and other diarrheal diseases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a project aiming to rehabilitate and extend the piped water infrastructure in Uvira is ongoing. A recent study evaluating the impact of the project has developed predictive models to estimate the probability of microbial contamination of household drinking water and the quantity of water used at home for domestic activities.
About cholera epidemics
No cases of cholera have been confirmed In Haiti since February 2019. This represents the first lull in cholera cases in the country since the bacterium was inadvertently imported nine years ago.
Conferences & International Events
The annual Global Alliance Against Cholera Advisory Council Roundtable Discussion was held on Tuesday, September 24, 2019, in Washington, DC. The meeting provided the opportunity to present and discuss some of the latest advances in WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) to control and prevent cholera.
About cholera epidemics
The Ethiopian government has committed to developing an evidence-based multi-sectoral National Cholera Elimination Plan, in line with strategy “The Ending Cholera: A Global roadmap to 2030”. The plan was recently presented to stakeholders during a high-level advocacy meeting on 23 July 2019. The move represents a crucial milestone in the combat against the disease, which remains a major health burden throughout the Horn of Africa.
Conferences & International Events
An unprecedented number of countries have engaged in the cholera elimination strategy developed by the Global Task Force on Cholera Control. The "Ending Cholera: Global Roadmap to 2030" initiative has been designed to guide countries through the process of cholera control and elimination.
About cholera epidemics
The largest documented cholera epidemic of modern history began in Yemen in September 2016, and the disease continues to plague the country with another sharp increase in cholera case numbers in recent weeks.
About cholera epidemics
In the wake of Tropical Cyclone Idai, the first cases of cholera were confirmed in Beira, Mozambique, and the World Health Organization warns of the risk of a second humanitarian disaster.
Conferences & International Events
With the objective of cholera elimination in many countries by 2030, discussions during the meeting focused on the challenges, opportunities and key next steps for the GTFCC and WaSH Working Group to support countries and their National Cholera Plans.
Conferences & International Events
The Zambian government has established a new national multi-sectoral cholera elimination plan that aims to put an end to cholera in the country by the year 2025. Cholera hotspots identified in the country will be targeted for improved access to safe drinking water, sanitation and appropriate healthcare.
About cholera epidemics
During the week February 4th to 10th, a total of 573 suspected cholera cases were recorded in Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the majority of cases reported from the cholera-endemic provinces of Haut Katanga, Haut Lomami, Tanganyika and South Kivu.
Conferences & International Events
"An essential issue to guide public action against cholera..."
"Unpublished results that shake conventional wisdom about cholera..."
"A search that continues, under difficult conditions..."
"Unpublished results that shake conventional wisdom about cholera..."
"A search that continues, under difficult conditions..."
Democratic Republic of Congo
On the heels of the 2017 cholera epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, case numbers have significantly declined in Kinshasa since the outbreak peaked in the capital on January 5th, 2018.
Democratic Republic of Congo
“This plan will pave the way for other countries in the fight against cholera” ~ Thierry Vandevelde, director general of the Veolia Foundation
Democratic Republic of Congo
The PNECHOL-MD (National Program for the Elimination of Cholera and the Control of Other Diarrheal Diseases), coordinated by Professor Didier Bompangue, responds to continuing cholera outbreaks in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that rarely encounter the disease.
Conferences & International Events
French Government recognizes long term U.S. advocate for clean water to prevent cholera epidemics.
Democratic Republic of Congo
In Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the fight against cholera has entered a new phase. Work has begun to rehabilitate and expand the water distribution network in Uvira, South Kivu.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Kinshasa, November 12, 2017 - On his return from a mission to Mozambique and South Africa, the Minister of Health, Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga, convened an emergency meeting on the cholera situation following recent outbreaks of the disease in the Greater Kasai region on Saturday, November 11, 2017.
Conferences & International Events
Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Secretary-General of the African Union's N.E.P.A.D. Agency and GAAC's president, receiving the 2017 Water Award from Prince Albert II, Chairman of the Foundation, named in his honor. This distinction adds to the ongoing recognition being extended to Dr. Mayaki for his leadership of Global Alliance Against Cholera and other water born diseases.
About cholera epidemics
Professor Didier Bompangue, Coordinator of the National Program for the Elimination of Cholera and other Diarrheal Diseases, said on Saturday 22 October that there is an overall downward trend in the cholera epidemic.
Conferences & International Events
Faced with an unprecedented cholera epidemic which has exceeded a reported 30,000 cases so far this year, primarily in the Eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr. Ilunga Kalenga, Minister of Health, visited US Government and International agencies in early October seeking financial and material assistance. He was accompanied in his mission by Dr. Didier Bompangue, Coordinator of the National Program for the Elimination of Cholera and other (water borne) Diarrheal Diseases, and Jonathan Simba Kai, in Charge of the Ministers office.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Initiated by the Veolia Foundation, the programme to fight cholera in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has just passed a critical stage. Following a lengthy preparatory phase, Regideso signed a contract for a three years renovation of the potable water generation and distribution system in the Eastern city of Uvira.
Conferences & International Events
The WHO/UNICEF sponsored meeting of the WASH Working Group of the Global Task Force for Cholera Control took place on February 28, and March 1 and 2 in Dakar, Senegal.
Conferences & International Events
January 17th marked the fifth meeting of the Advisory Council of the Global Alliance Against Cholera, an activity sponsored by the Veolia Foundation. Welcomed by Thierry Vandevelde, on behalf of Chairman, Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, 12 participants including 5 Council members and seven guests met at the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. to exchange information on their recent cholera abatement activities.
Conferences & International Events
Prepared by Dennis Warner, G.A.A.C. Council member and Senior Advisor to the Millennium Water Alliance, Washington, D.C.
Conferences & International Events
The Global Task Force for Cholera Control (GTFCC) has met on 14 and 15 June 2016, in Amman, Jordan.
Democratic Republic of Congo
In Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), ministers from eight of the country’s provinces have pledged to locally roll out the national cholera eradication programme. This innovative move further bolsters mobilisation against a waterborne disease which still claims many victims.
Democratic Republic of Congo
PLOS Medicine, the prestigious public health journal, has just published an article about research done by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the Veolia Foundation’s scientific partner, and the French Development Agency (AFD), as part of efforts to combat cholera in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Conferences & International Events
Among its initial activities, the recently organized Global Task Force for Cholera Control, by the World Health Organization, tapped Dr. Thierry Vandevelde, Executive Director of the Veolia Foundation to serve as Chairman of its WASH Working Group.
About cholera epidemics
The World Health Organisation has released the latest figures on cholera cases.
About cholera epidemics
Breakdown of hydraulic treatment pumping station near Abidjan : epidemic of cholera killed 19 people
Reports are arriving from Abidjan, the Capital of the Ivory Coast in West Africa of an ongoing cholera epidemic which since October, 2014 has resulted in 19 deaths from a current total of close to 300 cases.
Conferences & International Events
La fondation Veolia, secrétaire général du GAAC, a soutenu l'organisation d'une table ronde les 5 et 6 décembre 2014 à Kinshasa, en République démocratique du Congo, sur l'élimination du choléra.
