Cholera and measles, Africa’s worst outbreaks 2024

Statistics collated in the ‘Epidemic Intelligence Report’ by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), presented during the inaugural press conference of the new year, identified cholera and measles as the most prevalent epidemics and those causing the highest number of casualties on the African continent in 2024. The data revealed that cholera caused 204,115 suspected cases and 30,583 confirmed cases, resulting in a total of 3,747 deaths across 20 member states of the African Union. In contrast, measles had 234,320 suspected cases and 26,432 confirmed cases, leading to 3,220 deaths. Notably, Sudan reported the highest number of cholera deaths, at 924, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recorded 415 deaths. The ongoing cholera outbreak in the DRC is part of a broader regional challenge, exacerbated by a complex humanitarian crisis that has strained health resources and underscored the need for urgent action by the international community. Jean Kaseya, Director General of CDC Africa, has outlined the Agency’s priorities for the next three months, namely to intensify response capacity, support integrated case management and care processes, and accelerate vaccinations. Meanwhile, the Africa CDC continues to urge African Union member states to step up surveillance and case management.