The World Health Organization released its latest report on the 29th, stating that global cholera outbreaks continue to worsen due to the impact of conflict and poverty, with the disease erupting in multiple countries and posing significant public health challenges across various regions.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the report shows that, from January 1 to August 17, 2025, a total of over 409,000 cholera/acute watery diarrhea cases were reported in 31 countries worldwide, including 4,738 deaths, with mortality rates exceeding 1% in six countries.
The report states that the continued and significantly expanding outbreaks in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Sudan since 2024 have made prevention and control even more complex. Moreover, countries like Chad and the Republic of the Congo—which had not reported a large number of cases in years—have seen outbreaks again, further overwhelming already fragile health systems. Data shows that among WHO-designated global regions, the Eastern Mediterranean region reported the highest number of cases, over 230,000, while the African region had the highest number of reported deaths, totaling 3,763.
The report says that conflict, large-scale displacement, natural disasters, and climate change have exacerbated outbreaks, particularly in rural and flood-affected areas with weak infrastructure and limited access to healthcare.