Yemen Cholera Outbreak: Accounts for 35% of Global Cases, 861 Deaths Recorded

Yemen, located in West Asia, is experiencing a severe cholera outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that as of December 1, 2024, the country was responsible for 35% of the global cholera cases, with 249,900 suspected infections and 861 confirmed deaths.

The cholera epidemic in Yemen is a result of a combination of factors, including limited access to clean water, inadequate sanitation, and a healthcare system weakened by years of conflict. Nearly half of Yemen’s population—18.2 million people—require humanitarian aid, and 17.6 million face food insecurity. Malnutrition has caused nearly half of children under five to suffer from moderate to severe stunting. The country’s healthcare system, devastated by war, is ill-prepared to handle waterborne diseases like cholera. The illness, which spreads through contaminated food or water, has been a persistent problem since Yemen’s previous major cholera outbreak from 2017 to 2020, which resulted in over 2.5 million cases and 4,000 deaths.

The response to the current cholera crisis is significantly underfunded, with a $20 million shortfall for the period between October 2024 and March 2025. As a result, Yemen has already had to close 47 diarrhoea treatment centers and 234 oral rehydration centers between March and November 2024, and another 17 DTCs and 39 ORCs are set to close by the end of the year. This would reduce the number of DTCs by 84% and ORCs by 62%.

Without sufficient funding, Yemen risks a repeat of the devastating 2017-2020 cholera outbreak. WHO representative Arturo Pesigan pointed out that the lack of safe drinking water, poor hygiene practices, and limited access to timely medical treatment are all exacerbating the situation. To tackle the epidemic, the WHO has called for immediate action, including community engagement programs, enhanced disease surveillance, improved laboratory capacity, increased coordination, and expanded treatment services. Additionally, oral cholera vaccination campaigns and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives are crucial to controlling the spread of the disease.

Globally, cholera remains a health challenge, with an estimated four million cases each year, but Yemen bears the heaviest burden. The ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for international support and sustainable solutions to address the country’s water, sanitation, and healthcare challenges.