• Africa launches $231M cholera response plan at WHO meeting

• Targets 90% death reduction, elimination in 20+ countries by 2030

• 2025 forecast: 200K cases, 6,020 deaths; 10M vaccines needed

On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, African countries launched a six-month continental plan to prepare for and respond to cholera outbreaks during the 75th session of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa. The plan aims to reduce cholera deaths by 90%, eliminate the disease in more than 20 countries, and keep the fatality rate below 1%.

The plan, estimated to cost over $231 million, will cover operational and technical response activities in affected member states, support preparedness actions in currently stable countries, and provide technical assistance from Africa CDC, WHO, UNICEF, and other partners. It will also focus on key measures: increasing domestic funding, community engagement, regional production of oral cholera vaccines, and integrating water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions into national health strategies.

A dedicated continental cholera incident management team has been integrated into the existing Mpox IMST platform to pool expertise and coordination. A member state-led task force was also created to harmonize efforts toward eliminating cholera in Africa by 2030.

The launch of this plan is one of several initiatives by African countries to respond effectively to the disease, amid tightening international financial aid.

Cholera poses a major challenge for Africa. The continent accounts for 82% of all cholera cases and 93.5% of associated deaths, according to July 2025 data from Africa CDC. Between 2014 and 2024, the number of cases increased by 141%, from 105,287 to 254,075, while deaths rose by 151%.

Since the start of 2025, more than 20 countries have been affected. South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Tanzania, and Ghana have been the hardest hit to date. On Monday, August 25, 2025, the European Union (EU) allocated 220,000 euros in humanitarian aid to help the Democratic Republic of Congo fight the disease.

According to Africa CDC, between September 2025 and February 2026, Africa is expected to record more than 200,000 cholera cases and 6,020 deaths, representing a 42% increase in cases and a 98% increase in deaths compared to 2024. To combat this, 10 million doses of oral cholera vaccines will be needed for reactive vaccination campaigns in at-risk areas, supplemented by rapid and coordinated interventions in affected regions.

Lydie Mobio