Angola Grapples with Deadly Cholera Outbreak as Death Toll Exceeds 580

Edition : Reda El ghazal

A severe cholera outbreak continues to ravage Angola, claiming more than 580 lives since it first emerged. Nearly half of the victims are children and teenagers, highlighting the outbreak’s devastating impact on the most vulnerable. Health authorities report rapidly spreading infections across multiple provinces, driven by poor sanitation, limited access to clean water, and overcrowded urban areas. Hospitals are overwhelmed, struggling to cope with the surge of patients, while emergency vaccination efforts attempt to slow the disease’s advance.

This latest crisis mirrors Angola’s tragic 2006 cholera epidemic, which killed 2,700 people. Recurring outbreaks, often worsened by heavy rains and flooding, reveal deep weaknesses in the country’s healthcare infrastructure. From January 2024 to March 2025, confirmed cholera cases in Eastern and Southern Africa soared past 178,000, with Angola and South Sudan hit hardest.

The situation has raised regional concerns, with UNICEF warning that the outbreak’s scale could outpace containment measures. Displacement camps and schools have become high-risk zones, increasing threats of malnutrition and additional health emergencies. As aid organizations rush to provide support, health experts emphasize the urgent need for long-term solutions—including improved water systems and public health education—to prevent future outbreaks. A UNICEF spokesperson stressed that this is not just a health crisis but a critical battle for sustainable change.