New Delhi: Around 80,000 children in West and Central Africa are at high risk of cholera as the rainy season begins, a UN spokesperson said on Wednesday, raising concerns over the spread of the disease across borders in the region.
Speaking at a daily press briefing, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, noted that active outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria are particularly worrying, as they pose a threat of cross-border transmission to neighbouring countries.
Other countries currently battling ongoing cholera epidemics include Chad, the Republic of Congo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Togo, according to UNICEF. Meanwhile, Niger, Liberia, Benin, the Central African Republic, and Cameroon are under close surveillance due to their vulnerability to potential outbreaks, Haq added.
Since the onset of the outbreaks, UNICEF has been supplying treatment facilities and affected communities with health, water, hygiene, and sanitation resources. It is also supporting cholera vaccination campaigns and promoting improved hygiene practices, as well as encouraging families to seek treatment promptly.
However, the spokesperson emphasised that more needs to be done to contain the disease. “Urgent and scaled-up efforts are needed to prevent further spread and contain the disease across the region,” Haq stated, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
To strengthen the emergency response over the next three months, UNICEF West and Central Africa urgently requires $20 million. The funding will help support critical areas such as health, water and sanitation, risk communication, and community engagement.
Cholera is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The disease is closely linked to poor access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, often exacerbated by conflict, displacement, climate events like floods, and underinvestment in infrastructure.
“Cholera is a global public health threat and an indicator of inequity and lack of social development,” the WHO said. Most patients suffer from mild to moderate diarrhoea and can recover with oral rehydration solution (ORS), but severe cases require intravenous fluids and antibiotics. Prompt treatment is essential to saving lives.
In 2023, 535,321 cholera cases and 4,007 deaths were reported to the WHO from 45 countries. However, the true burden may be higher due to underreporting, limited surveillance, and concerns about the impact on trade and tourism.
(With inputs from IANS)
