The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Thursday called for an urgent increase in production of cholera vaccines, citing a “critical shortage” worldwide.
After decades of progress in combatting cholera, cases have been on the rise again since 2021, including in countries that had not seen the disease in years.
The WHO has recorded over 300,000 cases of cholera, resulting in around 2,000 deaths across 26 countries as of July 28.
“The response continues to be affected by a critical shortage of the vaccine, as demand continues to outpace supply,” Ghebreyesus stated on X (formerly Twitter).
According to Ghebreyesus, only 55 million doses were produced as of January 2024, while 18 countries requested 105 million doses during the same period.
While the WHO identified the eastern Mediterranean region, Africa, and Southeast Asia as having the highest number of cholera cases, it said the global risk of the disease is “very high” due to the growing number of cases and the shortage of vaccines. Between January and May 2024, the WHO reported a complete depletion of the oral cholera vaccine stockpile.
Cholera is typically caused by consuming contaminated water or food, leading to severe diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle cramps, according to WHO.