Angola continues to face its deadliest cholera outbreak in two decades, with the disease spreading to 17 out of 21 provinces since January, leading to nearly 600 deaths and over 18,000 reported cases, according to United Nations agencies.

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, has deployed rapid response teams to detect cases and engage with communities, urging residents to take preventive measures.

Health Promotion Supervisor António Catunda described efforts on the ground: “We walk around with loudspeakers, urging people to do what they can to get rid of this evil.”

In February, Angola launched a cholera vaccination drive, reaching one million people. Despite these interventions, the country’s case fatality rate stands at 3.2%, far exceeding the 1% threshold for effective treatment.

Health workers, already overwhelmed, express deep exhaustion. Flávio Njinga, a community development and health agent, stated: “We’re tired of seeing deaths… but we won’t stop until this is over.”

Regional Cholera Surge

Cholera has impacted 178,000 people across Eastern and Southern Africa since January 2024, with South Sudan and Angola experiencing the most severe outbreaks, according to UNICEF.

Angola’s last major outbreak in 2006 resulted in 2,700 deaths, and periodic surges continue, especially during rainy seasons.

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