2024-11-19-世界卫生组织-Multi-country_outbreak_of_cholera,_External_situation_report_20_-_20_November_2024_15页_1mb

Summary of Multi-country Cholera Outbreak Report (November 2024)

The report details a severe cholera outbreak affecting multiple countries, with data up to 27 October 2024. As of late October, 486,760 cholera and acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases were reported globally, including 4,018 deaths, with 33 countries impacted. The Eastern Mediterranean Region had the highest burden (321,146 cases), followed by the African and South-East Asia Regions. Since January 2024, case numbers have fluctuated due to factors like conflict, displacement, natural disasters, and climate change, which exacerbate outbreaks in vulnerable areas such as rural and flood-affected regions, leading to delays in treatment and control efforts. The global case fatality rate is concerning, highlighting inadequate healthcare access and poor infrastructure in affected areas. A recent decrease in new cases in October may be due to enhanced surveillance, but deaths rose sharply, indicating poor outbreak management.

Key challenges include insufficient oral cholera vaccine (OCV) stockpiles, averaging below 600,000 doses—far below the target of 5 million—stifling preventive vaccination campaigns. Other hurdles involve surveillance gaps, delayed reporting, poor coordination between agencies, and limited staffing, straining national capacities and response effectiveness. Operational responses include deploying WHO experts, strengthening surveillance systems and WASH infrastructure, and promoting vaccination where feasible. Next steps involve continuous monitoring, securing funding, and improving cross-border coordination to address the very high global risk and prevent further spread.