Global cholera cases surpass 565,000 in 2025 as WHO notes sharp decline in October

GENEVA

Cholera outbreak has affected more than half a million people this year, according to the World Health Organization's (WHO) latest external situation report, which shows significant but uneven trends across regions.

From Jan. 1 to Oct. 26, 2025, a cumulative 565,404 cholera cases and 7,074 deaths were reported across 32 countries in five WHO regions, the multi-country report showed.

The Eastern Mediterranean region recorded the highest caseload, followed by the African region, the South-East Asia region, the region of the Americas and the Western Pacific region, the report said. No cases were reported in the European Region during this period.

The data indicated a notable improvement in the global trajectory of the outbreak in October. During the month, 35,026 new cholera and acute watery diarrhea (AWD) cases were recorded across 20 countries in four WHO regions, a 34% decrease compared to September.

Cholera-related deaths also fell sharply, with 335 deaths reported worldwide, marking a 55% decrease from the previous month.

The WHO also reported stronger global availability of oral cholera vaccines (OCV). In October 2025, the average stockpile stood at 7.9 million doses, remaining above the organization's 5-million-dose emergency threshold throughout the reporting period.

The report noted that response efforts continue to be strained by factors such as inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, limited vaccine supply, gaps in surveillance, and the impact of conflict and natural hazards.

With national capacities overstretched and funding gaps widening, WHO and partners stressed that strengthened coordination, increased investment, and improved cross-border collaboration will be essential to curb transmission and support affected countries in the coming months.