A report released by the World Health Organization on the 12th pointed out that since entering 2024, the global risk of cholera has continued to remain at a "very high" level. In January alone, 17 countries in Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Americas and South-East Asia reported 40,900 infections and 775 deaths. Zambia and Zimbabwe have seen the worst surge in cholera cases.
In its report, WHO notes that the global cholera response continues to be affected by severe shortages of oral cholera vaccines.
Based on the number of cases of cholera outbreak and the geographical spread of the cholera epidemic, as well as the shortage of resources such as vaccines, the WHO maintained the assessment of the global risk of the cholera epidemic at a "very high" level in the report released on the 12th, and continued to list the global cholera epidemic as a level 3 emergency. Level 3 is also the highest level of emergency within WHO.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, mainly through unclean water and food, and patients often have symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration and high fever, and severe disease and delay** can lead to death.
*: CCTV News).
Editor: Wei Yuanyuan.