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The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF handed over 1.1 million doses of cholera vaccines to the Chadian government on Thursday, officials said, as authorities scramble to contain a deadly outbreak that has already claimed 75 lives in eastern Chad. The vaccines are expected to help prevent new cases and protect vulnerable communities in the affected provinces.
The cholera epidemic was officially declared on July 13, 2025 and has rapidly spread through eastern provinces. Health authorities report over 900 suspected cases in the Ouaddai Province alone.
The current death toll of 75 people underscores the severity of the outbreak, while public health officials warn that numbers could rise if swift interventions are not fully implemented.
The outbreak has been worsened by poor sanitation, limited access to clean water, and climate-related flooding that contaminated water sources. Cholera, caused by consuming contaminated water or food, spreads rapidly in areas with inadequate hygiene infrastructure.
Mahamat Hamit Ahmat, Deputy General Secretary in the Ministry of Public Health and Prevention, highlighted that the combination of dense population, limited healthcare access, and seasonal flooding has created ideal conditions for the bacteria to spread across eastern Chad.
Cholera is not limited to Chad. Across Africa, the disease has surged this year due to climate-related flooding and poor sanitation, with outbreaks reported in Sudan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Globally, over 390,000 cases and more than 4,300 deaths have been reported in 31 countries so far in 2025, according to WHO. Health experts warn that climate change and extreme weather events are likely to increase cholera risks in vulnerable regions, particularly in refugee settlements and rural areas with inadequate water infrastructure.
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