WHO: Climate Change Led to "Unprecedented" Outbreak of Cholera

The World Health Organization (WHO) said climate change has led to an "unprecedented" cholera outbreak, the largest and deadliest worldwide this year.

“Cholera threatens people in many parts of the world, and the situation is completely unprecedented because we are not seeing more outbreaks after several years of steadily declining cases and deaths,” said Dr. Philippe Barboza, WHO Team Leader for Cholera and Diarrheal Diseases.

All the "usual factors" played a role in the global rise in cholera in 2022, Barboza said, not least of which was conflict and mass displacement, plus the "very obvious impact" of climate change.

It pointed out that this health crisis, spreading throughout the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, is accompanied by "large floods, unprecedented monsoons, and a series of hurricanes."

Available data indicate that cases of infection occurred in about 30 countries, while in the past five years, fewer than 20 countries reported an average of injuries.