GENEVA: The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for increased production of cholera vaccines, emphasizing a “critical shortage” worldwide.
According to the UN health agency, 307,433 cholera cases and 2,326 deaths were reported across 26 countries as of July 28. “The response is still hampered by a critical shortage of vaccines, as demand continues to exceed supply,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.
Since January 2023, 18 countries have requested 105 million doses, but only 55 million doses have been produced, Tedros noted. In a recent update, the WHO reported that the oral cholera vaccine stockpile was “entirely depleted” between January and May 2024.
Tedros called for “further investment in scaling up vaccine production” and urged all countries to allocate more resources to “water and sanitation, and emergency preparedness to prevent further outbreaks.”
The WHO indicated that the eastern Mediterranean region, Africa, and Southeast Asia have recorded the highest numbers of cases. The organization considers the global risk from cholera to be “very high” due to the rising number of cases and the vaccine shortage.
After decades of progress against cholera, cases have been increasing since 2021, even in countries that hadn’t seen the disease for years, according to the WHO. The agency also warned that current case numbers should be viewed cautiously due to possible reporting delays.
Cholera, which causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle cramps, typically results from consuming contaminated food or water, the WHO explained.
