Cholera Related Fatalities Increased by 50% – Vax-Before-Travel
Geneva – The World Health Institution (WHO) has assessed the global risk of cholera as very high, with the crisis continuing into 2025. As of the beginning of 2025, outbreaks have been reported in 31 countries worldwide.
Data reveals a concerning trend: 60 countries experienced cholera outbreaks in 2024, a notable increase compared to the 45 countries reporting cases in 2023. The WHO announced on September 12, 2025, that cholera cases rose by 5% in 2024, while tragically, deaths surged by 50% compared to the previous year. Over 6,000 people succumbed to a disease that is both preventable through vaccination and treatable with appropriate medical care.
The WHO emphasizes that reported figures likely underestimate the true scale of the cholera burden.
Combating the spread requires a multi-faceted approach. Governments,donors,and communities must prioritize access to safe water and sanitation,disseminate accurate preventative data,and ensure rapid access to both treatment and vaccination during outbreaks.Increased investment in oral cholera vaccine (OCV) production is also crucial.
A new OCV, Euvichol-S®, received WHO prequalification in early 2024 and was added to the global stockpile. This addition initially helped maintain stockpile levels above the emergency threshold of 5 million doses for the first half of 2025.
However,sustained high demand necessitated the continuation of a temporary single-dose regimen throughout 2024 and into 2025,shifting from the standard two-dose approach. In 2024, requests were made for 61 million OCV doses, with a record 40 million approved for emergency use in single-dose reactive campaigns across 16 countries. Despite thes efforts, supply constraints continued to exceed demand in both 2024 and 2025.
For travelers, oral cholera vaccines are generally available in the United States at travel clinics and pharmacies. The U.S. CDC recommends vaccination for individuals visiting areas experiencing cholera outbreaks.
