The seventh cholera pandemic began in South Asia in 1961 and continues today. Since mid-2021, there has been a global upsurge in the pandemic, resulting in the World Health Organization (WHO) classifying the resurgence as a grade 3 emergency in January 2023. This is due to the number and size of outbreaks, geographical expansion to new areas, re-emergence in areas previously free of cholera, and the shortage of vaccines and other resources.
The global shortage of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCVs) has affected the response to the pandemic. Fifteen countries have requested OCVs since January 2023, and the demand for doses far outweighs the supply. Other factors contributing to the continuation of the pandemic are humanitarian crises, overburdened health systems, inadequate water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, armed conflicts, displacement, travel and trade, climate change, and inadequate surveillance, particularly at border sites.
For the year 2024, as of 28 April 2024, there have been 145 900 cholera cases and 1 766 deaths recorded globally. The Western Pacific Region is the only WHO region with no reported cases this year. The African Region accounts for the highest burden of cases (80 429 cases; 14 countries), followed by the Eastern Mediterranean Region (62 190 cases; six countries), the Region of the Americas (2672 cases; one country), the South-East Asia Region (583 cases; two countries), and the European Region (26 cases; one country).
Due to the high risk of importation of cases to South Africa, particularly from neighbouring countries, this report will focus on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region.
