Africa has reported more than 2,200 deaths due to ongoing cholera outbreaks in different parts of the continent since January 2025, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has said.
During an online media briefing on Thursday evening, Yap Boum, deputy incident manager at the Africa CDC, said since the start of this year, the continent has recorded 115,513 cholera cases and 2,424 related deaths.
Data from the African Union (AU)’s specialized healthcare agency showed that South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola, and Sudan are the most cholera affected countries in Africa.
Noting that the four most-affected countries are currently experiencing “severe” cholera outbreaks, Boum said these countries contribute 84 percent of the total cases and 92 percent of deaths reported in Africa in 2025.
South Sudan has witnessed the highest number of casualties from cholera with 848 deaths in 2025, while Angola and DRC recorded 609 and 513 deaths respectively, it was noted.
According to the Africa CDC, inadequate clean and safe water is the major driver of recurring cholera outbreaks in Africa, further exacerbated by strained health systems as the continent grapples with a number of disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
Meanwhile, Boum underscored that a coordinated regional and continental response is urgently needed to control the spread of cholera outbreak across Africa.
MG/as/APA