We have identified you may not be viewing TRAVAX optimally because the browser you are using is unsupported - click here.

placeholder="Enter search term...">
Suitcase

Cholera in Africa

18 January 2024

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

  • Burundi: 1 356 cases (9 deaths) from 1 January 2023 to 13 December 2023

  • Cameroon: 21 222 cases (508 deaths) from 31 August 2021 to 2 December 2023

  • Democratic Republic of Congo: 62 803 cases (1 468 deaths) from 1 January 2023 to 11 December 2023

  • Ethiopia: 28 550 cases (428 deaths) from 17 September 2022 to 15 December 2023

  • Kenya: 12 121 cases (202 deaths) from 5 October 2022 to 22 October 2023

  • Malawi: 59 040 cases (1 768 deaths) from 3 March 2022 to 15 October 2023

  • Mozambique: 34 943 cases (146 deaths) from 14 September 2022 to 23 October 2023

  • Nigeria: 3 276 cases (102 deaths) from 1 January 2023 to 1 October 2023

  • Tanzania: 660 cases (19 deaths) from 7 September 2023 to 12 December 2023

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

  • Zimbabwe: 4 472 cases (125 deaths) from 12 February 2023 to 1 October 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:

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.