Health authorities in Ivory Coast have declared a cholera outbreak, reporting seven deaths and dozens of infections in the capital’s outskirts, raising fears of a wider health crisis.

The outbreak was officially confirmed after lab tests detected cholera vibrio bacteria in stool samples from affected patients. The Port-Bouët-Vridi health district first reported five deaths in the village of Vridi Akobrate on May 25, with cases quickly rising to 45 infections.

Health officials have urged the public to consume safe drinking water, avoid street water bags, and practice regular handwashing to curb the spread.

Ivory Coast has faced multiple cholera epidemics since the 1990s, but experts warn that current conditions make the situation especially precarious. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified cholera as a disease of poverty, thriving in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water.

Africa is currently bearing the brunt of global cholera deaths, experiencing eight times as many fatalities as the Middle East, the second-hardest-hit region.

The outbreak comes amid a global shortage of cholera vaccines, which are primarily allocated to low-income nations. Additionally, climate change and the ongoing El Niño weather phenomenon have worsened conditions, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.

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