Tight vaccine supplies derail region’s fight against cholera
JOHANNESBURG. – A multi-country cholera outbreak covering Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia – with isolated cases now detected in South Africa – could be hard to contain thanks to a shortage of vaccine supplies.
According to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, there are doses of cholera vaccines to meet immediate demand, but a sharp rise in emergencies is making things harder, and problems could persist until the end of next year.
Preliminary data indicate that the number of cholera cases reported in 2023 has exceeded that of 2022, with over 667 000 cases and 4 000 deaths globally.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cholera’s resurgence in 2021 was linked to climate change issues such as flooding, coupled with poor sanitation and bad infrastructure in some countries, and was classified as a Grade 3 emergency, requiring top priority attention.
Outbreak statistics “must be interpreted with caution given the varying surveillance systems and capacity across countries, which means that 2023 data are not directly comparable to reports from previous years”, WHO said in a statement.
It has since asked its partners and governments to double their efforts in countering cholera, and that money is urgently needed to execute this mission.
“As cholera cases surge, there is a need to redouble efforts, with every citizen, organisation, and authority playing their part in turning this tide. Increased funding and unwavering collaboration are now indispensable weapons in the fight against this preventable disease. Only through a unified effort, bolstered by adequate resources, can we curb the spread of cholera,” WHO said.
In a statement this week, Limpopo health department spokesperson Thilivhali Muavha said two suspected cholera cases in the province had been detected in Zimbabweans.
With the help of health partners such as WHO, in a bid to contain a spread that has become countrywide, cholera treatment centres have been decentralised.
The centres are located near affected communities so that those infected don’t have to walk long distances, which risks spreading the disease.
“By prioritising accessibility and community engagement, the decentralisation of treatment centres offers a promising solution for curbing the spread of the disease, reducing mortality, and ensuring the well-being of Zimbabweans,” said Professor Jean-Marie Dangou, the WHO representative in Zimbabwe.
The count in Zimbabwe as of Monday stood at 15 137 suspected cholera cases, 1 959 confirmed cases, 14 578 recoveries, 67 confirmed deaths, and 266 suspected deaths.
In Zambia, President Hakiande Hichilema cut short his holiday to attend to a cholera crisis that was first detected in October last year in peri-urban areas around Lusaka, putting an estimated 10 million people at risk.
There are more than 9 500 cholera cases and 374 deaths registered in Zambia, with a case fatality rate of 3.9 percent.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has since launched an R88-million emergency appeal to address the cholera outbreak in Zambia.
The money would be channeled towards the provision of clean water.
“To ensure no more lives are lost, we must prioritise access to clean and safe water. With the waterborne disease spreading rapidly, we are deeply concerned about the situation unfolding. The IFRC and Zambia Red Cross Society are seeking resources to contribute to activities that can support stopping the spread and its transmission,” said John Roche, IFRC Head of Delegation Country Cluster for Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.
Between 2022-23, Malawi faced one of its worst cholera outbreaks which led to the highest number of cholera deaths in a single country in 2023.
As of August 2023, there were 58 982 cholera cases in Malawi, with 1 768 deaths reported.