The World Health Organization has recorded a total of 116,574 cholera cases and 1514 deaths from 1 January to 30 March 2025 across 25 countries.
In March alone, a total of 32,985 new cholera or acute watery diarrhoea cases were reported from 22 countries, territories and areas across three WHO regions, reflecting a 9% decrease from February. March also saw 517 cholera-related deaths globally, highlighting an 8% decrease from the previous month. Since the last report, new cholera outbreaks have been reported in Kenya and Namibia.
Extreme weather events and conflict, such as the ongoing insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have resulted in low or no reporting from some areas. Given these complexities, the data presented here likely underestimates the true burden of cholera.
In March, the average stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccine stabilized at 5.2 million doses, the fourth consecutive month above the five million needed for emergency stockpile at all times. However, the W.H.O. reports that growing global demand continues to exceed supply, hindering efforts to control cholera outbreaks, respond rapidly to the disease’s spread, and implement preventative campaigns.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, often from faeces. With safe water and sanitation, cholera can be prevented. It can kill within hours when not treated, but immediate access to treatment saves lives.
Source: World Health Organization