Cholera in Africa: Update 3
22 Oct 2024
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports continued transmission of cholera in African countries.
Burundi: from 14 December 2022 to 1 June 2024 there have been 1 890 suspected cases including 11 deaths.
Comoros: from 2 February 2024 to 25 June 2024 there have been 10 142 suspected cases including 147 deaths. Ndzuwani, Ngazidja and Mwali are affected.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: from1 January 2024 to 1 September 2024 there have been 23 887 suspected cases including 316 deaths. North Kivu, Haut Katanga, South Kivu, and Haut Lomami are the most affected provinces
Ethiopia: from 1 August 2022 to 26 August 2024 there have been 54 276 suspected cases including 679 deaths.
Ghana: from 21 August 2024 to 31 August 2024 there have been 24 suspected cases including 2 deaths. Ada District in Greater Accra region is affected.
Kenya: from 5 October 2022 to 23 June 2024 there have been 12 624 suspected cases including 208 deaths. Tana River, Lamu and Siaya counties are affected.
Malawi: on 12 September 2024, 10 cases were reported from Chitapa. Choera was also reported from Nsanjw District from November 2023 to July 2924.
Mozambique: from 12 October 2023 to 23 June 2024 there have been 48 181 cases including 174 deaths. Maputo, Nampula and Sofala provinces have recent recently reported active outbreaks.
Niger: from 27 August 2024 to 12 September 2024 there have been 181 suspected cases including 6 deaths. Bouza, Birni Koni and Madaoua health districts (Tahoua region) are affected.
Nigeria: from 1 January 2024 to 11 August 2024 there have been 5 951 suspected cases including 176 deaths. Thirty-six states have been affected.
South Africa: from 20 January 2024 to 10 June 2024 there have been 155 suspected cases. KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng Western Cape Province are affected.
Tanzania: from 5 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 there have been 4 742 suspected cases including 79 deaths. Twenty-three regions have been affected.
Togo: on 7 August 2024, 1 case was reported in Vo health district, Maritime region.
Uganda: from 11 May 2024 to 26 May 2024, 57 suspected cases including 4 deaths were reported in Kyotera district.
Zambia: from 13 June 2022 to 4 August 2024, 4 259 cases. Nine provinces are affected.
Cholera is an infection spread mainly through food and water that can cause sudden watery diarrhoea.
Advice for Travellers
Cholera is rare in travellers. Mild cases may present as travellers' diarrhoea.
If you are travelling to a country where there is an outbreak of cholera, you should be aware how to:
- practice safe food and water precautions
- practice effective hand hygiene
- treat mild diarrhoea, and when to seek medical attention
A vaccine is available to protect against cholera. Since the risk to travellers is very low, the vaccine is only usually recommended for volunteers or humanitarian workers travelling to work in disaster relief situations.
See the fitfortravel Cholera page for further information.