Multi-country outbreak of cholera, External situation report #2 - 15 May 2023

Overview

Since the last situation report on the multi-country outbreak of cholera was published on 28 March 2023, one new country reported a cholera outbreak: Eswatini reported a first case in April, related to cross-border transmission from Mozambique and a second case without travel history. In total, 24 countries have reported cases since the beginning of 2023. Since the beginning of 2023, outbreaks have spread further across African regions.  The overall capacity to respond to the multiple and simultaneous outbreaks continues to be strained due to the global lack of resources, including shortages of the oral cholera vaccine, as well as overstretched public health and medical personnel, who are dealing with multiple disease outbreaks and other health emergencies at the same time. Based on the current situation, WHO assesses the risk at the global level as very high.

Note: The number of suspected/confirmed cases for Zimbabwe were changed from 579 to 475 on 15 May 2023.