Angola Facing Cholera Outbreak

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Angola’s Ministry of Health and its partners, including the World Health Organization, respond to the outbreak through case detection, deployment of rapid response teams and community engagement. The country has also launched a vaccination campaign in February, which has reached 1 million people. 

Angola continues to fight its worst cholera outbreak in 20 years, with the disease spreading to 17 of the country’s 21 provinces since January. The outbreak has caused nearly 600 deaths and more than 18,000 cases as of early May, according to United Nations agencies.

Angola’s Ministry of Health and its partners, including the World Health Organization, respond to the outbreak through case detection, deployment of rapid response teams and community engagement. The country has also launched a vaccination campaign in February, which has reached 1 million people.

Despite these measures, Angola has a case fatality rate of 3.2%, exceeding the 1% threshold used as an indicator for early and adequate treatment of cholera patients. The situation is especially difficult for responders on the ground. “We’re tired of seeing deaths, we’re tired of seeing patients with these problems”, said Flávio Njinga, who works as a community development and health agent (Adeco).

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Angola’s last major cholera surge in 2006 killed over 2,700 people. The country has since faced periodic outbreaks, especially during the rainy season.