Cholera cases trending at highest rate in a decade says WHO

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

June 12, 2023 – Based on increasing outbreaks and low vaccine availability, the global risk of a Cholera outbreak is very high according to the World Health Organization, WHO.

In a disease update bulletin issued on June 1st, the WHO said 24 countries were still dealing with outbreaks, the same amount as in April. Cases inside those areas however are growing.

The WHO said response to the outbreak is strained at best because of: a global lack of resources; shortages of the oral cholera vaccine; and overstretched public health and medical personnel, who are dealing with multiple disease outbreaks and other health emergencies at the same time.

Cases are also expected to increase.

“With reference to historical transmission patterns and seasonality, it is important to note that large parts of the world are currently in low or interepidemic transmission periods, therefore this number could increase in the months to come,” the report said.

Cases globally are already trending higher than they have been in a decade.

At the time of the report, Haiti and the Dominican Republic were the only countries with recorded cases in the Caribbean. Haiti had recorded 45,000 with 686 deaths and The Dominican Republic 99 with no deaths.

The Turks and Caicos becomes third country in the region, recording its first case of Cholera on June 4th 2023.