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Wednesday, 01 July 2026
NOTE TO JOURNALISTS
Multi-country outbreak of cholera, epidemiological update #38 -30 June 2026
https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/multi-country-outbreak-of-cholera--epidemiological-update--38--30-june-2026
Overview (data as of 31 May 2026)
- In May 2026 (epidemiological weeks 19 to 22), a total of 29 610 new cholera and acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases were reported from 16 countries, territories, and areas (hereafter countries) across four WHO regions, showing a 43% increase from the previous month. The Eastern Mediterranean Region registered the highest number of cases, followed by the African Region, the South-East Asia Region, and the Region of the Americas. No cases were reported from the European Region or the Western Pacific Region. This period also saw 271 cholera-related deaths globally, representing a 30% increase from the previous month.
- Cholera cases and deaths in May 2026 were 59% and 61% lower than the same period last year (72 914 cases and 687 deaths across 21 countries).
- For the year so far, from 1 January to 31 May 2026, a total of 114 829 cholera and AWD cases and 1318 deaths were reported from 23 countries across four WHO regions, with the African Region recording the highest number of cases, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean Region, the Region of the Americas and the South-East Asia Region. No cases were reported from the European Region or the Western Pacific Region during this time.
- In recent years, conflict, mass displacement, disasters associated with natural hazards, and climate-related events have contributed to conditions that may facilitate cholera transmission, particularly in rural and flood-affected areas, where poor infrastructure and limited access to healthcare can delay treatment. These cross-border factors have made cholera outbreaks increasingly complex and harder to control.
- The data presented here should be interpreted with caution. Potential underreporting and reporting delays may affect timeliness and accuracy, while variations in surveillance systems, standard case definitions, and laboratory capacities can limit direct comparability among countries. These factors also influence the global case fatality rate (CFR), requiring careful examination. Unless otherwise specified, the term ‘cholera cases’ includes both suspected and confirmed cases. Data in this report may be adjusted retrospectively as more information becomes available. For the latest data, please refer to the WHO Global Cholera and AWD Dashboard.
- Starting in July, the cholera epidemiological update will be included on a monthly basis in the Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER), providing readers with regular consolidated information on the global cholera situation and key epidemiological trends. The update will be accessible through the WHO WER platform: The Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER).
Cholera upsurge (2021-present): https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/cholera-upsurge/
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