Addis ababa: The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), based in Ethiopia, announced that the continent is experiencing its worst cholera outbreak in 25 years.
According to Qatar News Agency, the centre reported nearly 300,000 confirmed and suspected cholera cases, with over 7,000 deaths. This marks an increase of more than 30 percent compared to last year's total cases. The rise in cases has been attributed to fragile water systems and ongoing conflicts in various regions.
Data from the centre indicates that Angola and Burundi have experienced a recent surge in cases due to limited access to safe drinking water. The situation in conflict-affected areas is particularly concerning, as the disease is spreading rapidly in overcrowded camps. However, there has been an improvement in the cholera situation in South Sudan and Somalia.
In addition, the centre noted that the monkeypox outbreak is decreasing in some of the worst-affected areas, though it remains a concern in countries such as Kenya, Guinea, Liberia, and Ghana.