Extreme weather events in Africa have caused a surge in cholera outbreaks, leading to thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of reported cases in southern and East Africa since late 2021. Countries like Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia have been hit particularly hard by these outbreaks, exacerbated by either floods, droughts, or both.
Health experts and scientists attribute the increasing size of these outbreaks to the more frequent and severe extreme climate events in the region. Tulio de Oliveira, a scientist based in South Africa, points to the cyclones and floods in Malawi as a source of cholera bacteria spreading to new areas. In Zimbabwe and Zambia, severe droughts have forced people to rely on contaminated water sources, leading to a rise in cholera cases.
Cholera is known as a disease of poverty, thriving in areas with poor sanitation and lack of clean water. Africa has been disproportionately affected by cholera outbreaks compared to other regions. The World Health Organization has highlighted the critical shortage of oral cholera vaccines globally, with only 3.2 million doses left in the stockpile, below the target of having at least 5 million.
The shortage of vaccines has resulted in preventable deaths, like that of 1-year-old Ndanji in Zambia. Due to the lack of vaccines, Zambia was unable to conduct a preventative vaccination campaign after neighboring Malawi’s outbreak, leading to a surge in cases. Similar situations have been observed in Zimbabwe, where a drought exacerbated by El Niño has allowed cholera to spread to rural areas.
As Africa grapples with the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events, the region is at an increased risk of disease outbreaks like cholera. The global community needs to address the shortage of cholera vaccines to prevent further loss of life in vulnerable communities across the continent. The recent outbreaks serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for investment in healthcare infrastructure and resources to combat preventable diseases like cholera.
