Horror tropical disease threatens UK holiday hotspots as health warning issued

14 February 2024 , 12:29

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Doctors care for patients ill with cholera in Zambia (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Numbers of a tropical disease which causes misery and possibly death are continuing to rise as tens of thousands of cases were reported last month.

Cholera is contracted from a bacterium generally transmitted through contaminated food or water. The illness causes diarrhoea and vomiting and can be especially dangerous for young children. Although cholera can kill within hours, it can be treated with simple oral rehydration and antibiotics, but many people around the world do not have access or cannot afford such medicines.

In its latest update, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned there were tens of thousands of cases made in 17 different countries in areas across the world. It read: “The persistence of cholera is evident as 2024 begins, with 40 900 cases and 775 deaths reported in January alone from 17 countries across four regions.

“[These were] the African Region, the Eastern Mediterranean Region, the Region of the Americas, and the South-East Asia Region. Zambia and Zimbabwe have experienced the highest surges, underscoring the ongoing challenge of controlling cholera and the importance of sustained public health efforts. In 2023, cases were reported in 30 countries across five WHO regions, including nine countries which recorded more than 10 000 cases.

A WHO map showing the places affected by cholera outbreaks (WHO)

“WHO classified the global resurgence of cholera as a grade 3 emergency in January 2023, its highest internal level for emergencies. Based on the number of outbreaks and their geographic expansion, alongside the shortage of vaccines and other resources, WHO continues to assess the risk at global level as very high and the event remains classified as a grade 3 emergency.”

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It added the global response has been hindered by a “critical shortage” of vaccines. Fourteen countries requested 76 million doses between January 2023 and 2024 but, currently, WHO can only meet around half of those with 38 million available.

It added: “The global stockpile of vaccines is awaiting replenishment and all production up to 8 March will be allocated to requests already approved.” Last year the WHO warned climate change is also playing a role in the global upsurge as floods, droughts and cyclones "trigger new outbreaks and worsen existing ones."

Cholera was a huge health issue in London in the Victorian era from 1830 to the 1860s - with over 40,000 dying of the disease due to bacteria getting into the water supply when sewage was dumped into the Thames. It is now very rare in the UK and cases are associated with travel to countries where cholera is still a problem.

Countries which have reported cholera cases

Comoros

Malawi

Zambia

Afghanistan

Burundi

Cameroon

Ethiopia

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Mozambique

South Africa

Sudan

Tanzania

Zimbabwe

Somalia

Bangladesh

Kenya

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Dominican Republic

Haiti

Nigeria

India

Yemen

Syria

Togo

Philippines

Iraq

Pakistan

Uganda

Congo

Eswatini

Lebanon

South Sudan

Antony Clements-Thrower