Cholera epidemic update

The cholera outbreak in Zambia, which was first reported in October 2023 in peri-urban areas of Lusaka Province, has quickly spread throughout the country (1). All ten provinces in Zambia have now been affected (2). Since the onset of the current outbreak, the country has reported a total of 14,900 suspected cholera cases and 560 cholera-related deaths (as of January 26, 2024) (2). Lusaka continues to represent the most affected province, reporting 89 % of all suspected cholera cases and 90 % of all deaths (2). The most affected age group are those between 25 and 35 years of age (2).

This situation calls for an urgent multidisciplinary strategy that includes rigorous disease surveillance to support a rapid and targeted response; ensuring access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); and enhanced risk communication and community engagement. Effective case management is also critical to avoid preventable deaths. The current case fatality rate stands at 3.8% (2).

This public health emergency is not restricted to Zambia, as many countries throughout Africa have reported an increase in cholera cases. Since January 2023, approximately 188,000 cholera cases have been reported in eight countries in Southern Africa (including six countries with current active outbreaks: Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) (3).