Context:
Recently, Cholera, a preventable and treatable disease, has experienced a resurgence, leading to approximately 4,000 deaths in 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Relevance:
GS II: Health
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is cholera?
- Global Distribution and Burden of Cholera
- Factors Leading to Cholera Resurgence
What is cholera?
- Cholera is caused by a bacteria called Vibrio cholera and is usually spread through contaminated drinking water or food. It causes severe diarrhoea and dehydration.
- If left untreated, cholera can be fatal, even in healthy people.
- The deadly effects of the disease are due to the toxin produced in the small intestine which causes the body to secrete enormous amounts of water which results in diarrhea and a rapid loss of fluids and salts or electrolytes.
- Cholera bacteria might not cause illness in all the people who are exposed to them, but they still pass the bacteria in their stool, which can contaminate food and water sources.
- While modern sewage systems have been known to have eliminated cholera in most countries, there is a potential risk in situations of inadequate sanitation and unnatural circumstances like war and poverty.
Symptoms
- While most people exposed to the cholera bacterium might not know they have been infected, they can still infect others through contaminated water as they shed cholera bacteria in their stool for seven to 14 days.
- Some of the symptoms are diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting and dehydration. Signs of cholera include fatigue, sunken eyes, dry mouth, extreme thirst, dry skin, little or no urination, low blood pressure and electrolyte imbalance which can cause muscle cramps and lead to rapid loss of salts such as chloride, sodium and potassium.
Global Distribution and Burden of Cholera
The Global Distribution and Burden of Cholera has worsened significantly between 2022 and 2024, with a notable increase in cases and deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 22 countries experienced ongoing cholera outbreaks, and as of August 2024, 2,400 deaths had been recorded globally. Cholera’s impact primarily affects Africa and Asia, though imported cases have been seen in Europe. By 2023, global cholera cases increased by 13%, and deaths rose by 17%, totaling 4,000 fatalities. The geographic spread of cholera has shifted, with a decline in Asia but a doubling of cases in Africa, primarily due to healthcare inequities. India reported 3,805 cholera cases by August 2024 in a multi-country outbreak that affected neighboring countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
Factors Leading to Cholera Resurgence:
- Impact on Water Quality:
- Floods, monsoonal rains, and extreme weather events cause sewage overflows into water sources, while droughts and heatwaves concentrate cholera bacteria, leading to outbreaks.
- Water and Sanitation:
- According to UNICEF (2019), 2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, and 3.6 billion have inadequate sanitation facilities, creating conditions ripe for cholera spread.
- Microplastic Adaptation:
- Research from 2023 shows Vibrio pathogens (cholera-causing bacteria) can attach to microplastics, potentially adapting to thrive in ocean environments.
- Conflict Zones:
- Areas impacted by conflict face major disruptions in health and sanitation services, increasing vulnerability to cholera outbreaks.
- Displaced Populations:
- Overcrowded conditions among displaced individuals without access to clean water increase cholera risks.
- Vaccine Shortages:
- In 2023, only 36 million doses of cholera vaccines were produced—far less than the demand. A single-dose regimen was introduced due to this shortage, replacing the usual two-dose standard.
- Limited Health Infrastructure:
- The lack of robust health services in the most affected regions severely limits effective outbreak response and containment measures. Currently, there is only one manufacturer producing Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCVs), resulting in a 40-million dose shortage annually.
-Source: The Hindu
