Cholera in Africa - update 3

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

Burundi: 1 030 cases (9 deaths) from 1 January 2023 to 25 September 2023

Cameroon: 19 400 cases (460 deaths) from 25 October 2021 to 22 June 2023

Democratic Republic of Congo: 24 121 cases (65 deaths) from 1 Jan 2023 to 5 August 2023

Ethiopia: 24 266 cases (295 deaths) from 17 September 2022 to 17 September 2023

Kenya: 12 102 cases (202 deaths) from 5 October 2022 to 10 September 2023

Malawi: 58 996 (1 768 deaths) from 3 March 2022 to 17 September 2023

Mozambique: 33 534 (141 deaths) from 16 November 2022 to 4 August 2023

Nigeria: 2 860 cases (84 deaths) from 1 January 2023 to 27 August 2023

South Africa: 1 388 cases (47 deaths) from 3 February 2023 to 31 July 2023

Uganda: 81 cases (10 deaths) from 25 July 2023 to 14 September 2023

Zambia: 887 cases (19 deaths) from 20 January 2023 to 10 September 2023

Zimbabwe: 4 106 cases (112 deaths) from 12 February 2023 to 24 September 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.