WHO: Over 2,700 Cholera Deaths Since Beginning of Year

Cholera cases are increasing worldwide. According to the latest bulletin from the World Health Organization (WHO), in May, with 52,589 cases, there was a 35% increase in infections compared to April. Since the beginning of the year, there have been 211,678 cases and 2,754 deaths. The countries most affected since the beginning of the year are South Sudan (over 51,000 cases) and Afghanistan (46,000 cases).

Further behind are the Democratic Republic of the Congo (27 thousand cases), Angola (22 thousand cases), Yemen (18 thousand), Sudan (16 thousand). South Sudan is also the country that has recorded the highest number of deaths (973), followed by Angola (685), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (576) and Sudan (278).

WHO has classified the risk associated with the epidemic as very high. Although the number of countries actually affected is limited (26), there are conditions for the infection to expand and 1 billion people live in risk areas. There is an "increased risk of cross-border transmission, fueled by porous borders, inadequate surveillance and poor awareness in communities", writes WHO.

Among other challenges, the presence of conflicts "which make it difficult for affected populations to access treatment and prevention services". Many countries, moreover, have "exhausted their response capacity" as they "concurrently face large-scale cholera epidemics and other emergencies".

In the background, then, the issue of the lack of funding, "with the withdrawal of support from key donors affecting response efforts in several countries with high rates of contagion; sustained international and national investments are needed for the prevention, preparedness and management of epidemics", concludes the World Health Organization.