The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed deep concern over the significant rise in global cholera infections and deaths in 2025, warning that the disease is rapidly spreading to new regions and is threatening vulnerable populations already dealing with the impacts of conflict and climate-related crises.
Dr. Philippe Barboza, the cholera team lead at the WHO, reported that over 100,000 cholera cases and 1,300 deaths have already been recorded globally within the first few months of 2025. This sharp increase in cases is a cause for alarm, as it marks a troubling rise in the incidence of cholera worldwide. Preliminary data from 2024 showed that there were 810,000 reported cases and approximately 5,900 deaths, indicating a significant increase compared to the previous year. However, Barboza cautioned that these numbers are likely an underestimation due to incomplete reporting in several regions, suggesting that the situation could be even worse than official data reveals.
One of the most concerning aspects of the current cholera outbreak is the spread of the disease to countries where it had not been present before. For example, nations such as Namibia and Kenya are now experiencing cholera outbreaks for the first time, further expanding the geographic footprint of the disease. This is a troubling development, as it highlights the increasing unpredictability of cholera’s reach and the difficulties in controlling its spread in regions that may lack sufficient healthcare infrastructure or preparedness.
In several affected countries, the case fatality rate has exceeded 1 percent, indicating that the disease is proving particularly deadly in these regions. Angola, in particular, has been hard-hit by the outbreak, with a fatality rate of over 4 percent. The country currently accounts for 36 percent of all global cholera cases in 2025. The WHO has been closely monitoring the situation in Angola, with Barboza noting that the disease is spreading rapidly within the country and into neighboring nations, further exacerbating the crisis.
In response to the crisis, the WHO and its partners have deployed rapid response teams, set up treatment centers, and provided training for healthcare staff in the affected regions. Despite these efforts, the scale of the outbreak is straining the capacity of local health systems, particularly in countries already grappling with complex humanitarian challenges. In Myanmar, for instance, the country has reported over 12,000 acute cholera cases since July 2024, and Haiti is facing a significant cholera outbreak but lacks the necessary financial resources to manage the situation effectively.
The WHO has emphasized the role of armed conflict and climate change in accelerating the spread of cholera. These two factors are contributing to the vulnerability of populations and exacerbating the challenges of responding to outbreaks. Displacement, disrupted healthcare services, and poor access to clean water and sanitation compounded by the changing climate have created an environment in which cholera can spread more easily, further threatening public health.
To combat the spread of the disease, the WHO has stockpiled 5.6 million doses of cholera vaccine for emergency responses. However, the surge in global demand for vaccines has highlighted the urgent need for increased production capacity. Barboza stressed the importance of a coordinated global effort to control and prevent cholera outbreaks, noting that such a preventable disease should not be claiming lives in the 21st century. The WHO is calling for sustained investment in prevention and treatment measures to address the underlying causes of cholera outbreaks, such as inadequate sanitation, lack of access to clean water, and the ongoing impacts of conflict and climate change.
