The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC, has linked the continent’s worst cholera outbreak in three years to climate change, stating that adverse weather conditions are elevating the risk of the disease at a faster rate than the global average.
The current surge in cholera cases is impacting more than a dozen countries in the region, causing hundreds of deaths and stretching already fragile health systems.
Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, emphasized that “Cholera in Africa is a climate change issue,” pointing to floods in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other parts of southern Africa as contributors to the crisis.
Over 42,000 cases of cholera infection have been reported from January 1, 2024 to date.
Within the period, over 2000 lives have been lost. Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe are among the countries affected.
