The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that over 30 nations and regions have recorded “unprecedented” and “deadlier”this year.
Cholera is a potentially lethal diarrhoeal infection caused by consuming contaminated food or water.
According to the WHO, cholera outbreaks have been reported in Haiti, Yemen, and Lebanon this year.
“The situation is rather unique, because not only are we witnessing more outbreaks, but these outbreaks are larger and more lethal than previous years,” said Dr Philippe Barboza, WHO’s team head on cholera.
Read also: Bolivia faced with double punch from climate change, economic “slow death.”
The health organisation also pointed out that climate change is fuelling the global cholera upsurge.
“This year, we have a factor which is even more important which is the direct impact of climate change, with a succession of major droughts, unprecedented floods in certain parts of the world, and cyclones which have amplified most of these epidemics,” said Barboza.
“The climate change impact will continue and it’s very difficult to extrapolate what will happen in the year to come,” he added.
The WHO warned that the problem is being exacerbated by vaccination shortages and will only increase until the vaccine shortfall is addressed.
“It is not acceptable in the 21st century to have people dying of a disease which is very well-known and very easy to treat providing that people have simple access to this treatment,” Barboza said.
“The fight against cholera is not lost. We can win it but we need much more investment.”
This story was adapted from euronews.
