Multi-country outbreak of cholera, External situation report #8 - 2 November 2023

Overview

Since the last situation report on the multi-country outbreak of cholera was published on 5 October 2023 (covering data reported until 15 September), and as of 15 October 2023, no new country has reported an outbreak of cholera or acute watery diarrhoea (AWD), although new outbreaks have been reported within affected countries. In total, 29 countries have reported cases since the beginning of 2023. The WHO African Region remains the most affected region with 16 countries reporting cholera cases since the beginning of the year. The overall capacity to respond to the multiple and simultaneous outbreaks continues to be strained due to the global lack of resources, including shortages of the oral cholera vaccine and cholera supplies, as well as overstretched public health and medical personnel, who are dealing with multiple parallel disease outbreaks and other health emergencies. Based on the large number of outbreaks and their geographic expansion, as well as a lack of vaccines and other resources, WHO continues to assess the risk at global level as very high.