In the last few years, there has been a decrease in the incidence, but in 2023 everything changed. The WHO annually monitors data on the incidence and number of cholera outbreaks this year is alarming.

This was reported by Radio Svoboda.

On September 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) released updated data showing that the number of cholera cases worldwide has more than doubled over the past year.

According to the WHO, about 2022,470 cases were reported in 000, a significant increase from 220,000 cases in the previous year.

However, WHO experts said that there is still not enough information about the situation, and according to a preliminary estimate, the organization predicts between 1.3 and 4 million cases and up to 143,000 deaths annually.

According to the WHO, Afghanistan, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Nigeria, Somalia and Syria were particularly affected during the year due to cholera outbreaks in their territories.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. According to researchers, from 1.3 to 4 million people fall ill with cholera annually in the world, of which 21 - 143 thousand cases are fatal.

How it is transmitted

Cholera is caused by eating food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria. Generally, the bacteria come with the feces of an infected person and spread quickly in areas with poor sanitation or inadequate wastewater treatment.

If the disease is not treated in time, cholera can kill a person in just a few hours. However, in most infected people, the disease is mild, complications occur in about one person out of ten.

Symptoms of cholera

Most infected people do not develop any symptoms. If they occur, they are mostly mild or moderate. A minority may still develop acute, watery diarrhea that will cause severe dehydration.

Prevention of cholera

Scientists believe that the most effective prevention of the disease is vaccination. However, if there are not enough vaccines, it is worth following other important recommendations: