Africa CDC, WHO Unveil Continental Plan To Eliminate Cholera
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa Region, in collaboration with African Union Member States, have launched the Continental Cholera Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for 2025–2026.
The initiative, announced by Africa CDC in a LinkedIn post on Friday, is designed to reduce cholera deaths by 90 percent and eliminate the disease in over 20 African countries by 2030.
According to Africa CDC, the new plan will strengthen rapid-response vaccination campaigns and increase investments in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems across the continent. These interventions aim to build long-term resilience and prevent future outbreaks.
Africa Bears the Heaviest Global Burden of Cholera
Africa CDC revealed that the continent continues to carry the largest share of global cholera cases, accounting for about 82 percent of all reported infections and 93.5 percent of cholera-related deaths worldwide.
The organisation noted that fragile, conflict-affected, and underserved communities remain most at risk. Limited access to clean water, poor sanitation, and weak healthcare systems continue to fuel the spread of the disease.
Cholera, an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae, can be fatal within hours if untreated. Although many infections are mild or asymptomatic, severe cases lead to dehydration and death if prompt treatment is unavailable.
Nigeria and Other Countries See Alarming Surge
Several African countries, including Nigeria, have reported a worrying surge in cholera outbreaks this year.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed that between 27 January and 2 February 2025, the country recorded a 75 percent increase in cholera cases compared to the same period in 2024. Even more alarming, deaths linked to the disease rose by 250 percent in the same timeframe.
Experts say this spike underscores the urgent need for improved surveillance, community awareness, and access to clean water — key pillars of the new continental strategy.
Integrated Emergency Response Framework
Central to the new plan is the creation of a Continental Cholera Incident Management Support Team (IMST). Rather than establishing a new agency, Africa CDC will integrate the IMST into the existing mpox response platform.
This structure allows for shared expertise, streamlined coordination, and better resource utilisation.
The Africa CDC and WHO confirmed that the IMST will operate under the “4-One” principle that guided the continent’s response to mpox across 26 countries during the 2024–2025 outbreak:
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One team
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One plan
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One budget
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One monitoring framework
This model, the organisations said, will support faster decision-making, joint resource mobilisation, and greater accountability across African Union Member States.
Roadmap to a Cholera-Free Africa by 2030
The long-term roadmap envisions an Africa free of cholera outbreaks by 2030. The key objectives include:
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Reducing cholera deaths by 90 percent;
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Maintaining a case fatality rate below one percent; and
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Eliminating the disease in more than 20 countries.
To oversee implementation, a Continental Task Force on Cholera will be established. This body will coordinate national and regional efforts, led by Member States, with Africa CDC and WHO providing secretariat support.
The task force will guide interventions in:
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Surveillance and early detection,
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Oral cholera vaccination campaigns,
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Community engagement and public awareness, and
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Sustainable investments in clean water and sanitation infrastructure.
Aligning with Global Cholera Elimination Goals
Both the Africa CDC and WHO emphasised that the initiative aligns with the Global Task Force on Cholera Control’s 2030 strategy, which aims to end cholera as a public health threat worldwide.
By coordinating national responses and strengthening cross-border collaboration, the new plan seeks to ensure continuity of emergency operations and improve preparedness for multiple health threats beyond cholera.
The agencies said the strategy represents a major step forward in Africa’s health security agenda — one that prioritises prevention, rapid response, and community resilience.
“This plan is not just about cholera; it’s about building stronger health systems that can protect Africa from all infectious diseases,” Africa CDC noted in its statement.
