The World Health Organization announced on Friday that the cholera epidemic is escalating sharply, with more than 400,000 cases recorded in 31 countries this year.
The organization confirmed that "the global cholera situation continues to deteriorate," driven by "conflict and poverty."
She explained that "conflicts, mass displacement, natural disasters, and climate change have exacerbated the spread of the disease, particularly in rural areas and those affected by floods, where poor infrastructure and limited access to healthcare have delayed treatment."
From the beginning of the year until August 17, the organization recorded 409,222 cases and 4,738 deaths worldwide.
While the number of cases decreased by 20% compared to the same period last year, deaths increased by 46%.
The organization added: "Given the scale, severity, and interconnected nature of these epidemics, the risk of their subsequent spread within and between countries is extremely high."
The case fatality rate in six countries exceeds 1%, revealing serious gaps in case management and delays in accessing care, according to the organization.
Cholera has emerged in countries that had not reported significant cases for years, such as the Republic of the Congo and Chad.
These two countries have the highest case fatality rates in the world, at 7.7% and 6.8%, respectively.
Sudan, the third largest country in Africa, is the country most affected by cholera in the world. More than 2,400 deaths have been recorded in 17 of its 18 states since the beginning of the year, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Cholera is usually accompanied by acute diarrhea caused by ingesting water or food contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria. It is easily treated, particularly by rehydrating the patient, but it can lead to death within hours if left untreated.
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