The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a cumulative total of 194,897 deaths and 1,932 cases globally due to the ongoing cholera outbreak.
This alarming data highlights the severe impact of the resurgence of cholera worldwide.
According to a statement from the health organization’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, outbreaks were recorded from January 1, 2024, to May 26, 2024.
These cases were reported in 24 countries across five WHO regions. The Eastern Mediterranean Region had the highest number of outbreaks, followed by the African Region, the Region of the Americas, the South-East Asia Region, and the European Region.
“The global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) was depleted until early March but exceeded the emergency target of 5 million doses in early June for the first time in 2024. As of 10 June 2024, the stockpile has 6.2 million doses. However, demand for the vaccine continues to outpace supply. Since January 2023, 92 million OCV doses were requested by 16 countries, nearly double the 49 million doses produced during this period,” WHO said.
By March, the UN health agency reported it had exhausted its global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV). However, by early June, it managed to surpass the emergency target by distributing over five million doses for the first time in 2024.
The WHO stated that since January of the previous year, 16 countries had requested 92 million doses of OCV, nearly double the 49 million doses produced during that period. In response, WHO is collaborating with partners like the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to leverage resources and develop long-term solutions for cholera.
The WHO categorized the global cholera resurgence as a grade three emergency, its highest internal emergency level, in January 2023. Due to the number of outbreaks, their geographic spread, and the ongoing shortage of vaccines and resources, WHO continues to assess the global risk as very high, maintaining the event’s classification as a grade three emergency.
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