Cholera in Africa - update 1

The World Health Organization reports continued transmission of cholera in African countries.

Burundi: 232 cases (1 death) from January 2023 to 4 April 2023

Cameroon: 14 582 cases (296 deaths) from October 2021 to 30 March 2023

Democratic Republic of Congo: 30 057 cases (349 deaths) from Jan 2022 to 3 April 2023

Eswatini: 1 cases (no deaths) from March 2023 to 5 April 2023

Ethiopia: 2 757 cases (57 deaths) from August 2022 to 3 April 2023

Kenya: 8 202 cases (133 deaths) from October 2022 to 4 April 2023

Malawi: 56 763 (1 722 deaths) from March 2022 to 4 April 2023

Mozambique: 22 482 (97 deaths) from September 2022 to 4 April 2023

Nigeria: 24 435 cases (617 deaths) from January 2022 to 13 March 2023

South Africa: 11 cases (1 death) from February 2023 to 27 March 2023

South Sudan: 608 cases (2 deaths) from February 2023 to 30 March 2023

Tanzania: 72 cases (3 deaths) from February 2023 to 13 March 2023

Zambia: 317 cases (8 deaths) from January 2023 to 4 April 2023

Zimbabwe: 237 cases (2 deaths) from February 2023 to 27 March 2023

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of faecally contaminated food or water, and occasionally foodstuffs such as shellfish.

Advice for Travellers

Severe cholera is rare in travellers. Mild cases may present as travellers' diarrhoea.

All travellers should be given advice on:

• maintaining safe food and water precautions
• effective hand hygiene
• basic steps in self-treating diarrhoea, particularly remaining adequately hydrated

Vaccination against cholera is dependent on the individual risk assessment, but may be considered for:

• volunteers/humanitarian workers/medical personnel travelling to disaster relief situations where cholera outbreaks are likely
• travellers with remote itineraries in areas where cholera outbreaks are occurring and there is limited access to medical care

For more information, please see the TRAVAX Cholera Page.