The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported on Thursday that the continent is experiencing its most severe cholera outbreak in a quarter-century, with approximately 300,000 confirmed and suspected cases and more than 7,000 deaths recorded so far in 2025.
This represents an increase of over 30 percent compared with the 254,075 cases logged for the whole of last year.
Angola has reported at least 33,563 cases and 866 deaths, while Burundi has recorded at least 2,380 cases and 10 deaths.
Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya described both countries as showing renewed surges that indicate active transmission of the bacterial disease, which spreads primarily through contaminated water and can cause rapid dehydration and death if untreated.
He emphasized that poor access to safe water, conflict, population displacement, and inadequate sanitation in overcrowded settings continue to fuel the epidemic.
Sudan has registered at least 71,728 cases and 2,012 deaths in 2025, with refugee camps in Darfur particularly affected amid ongoing war that has damaged water and sewage infrastructure.
The Africa CDC noted declines in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Somalia, but warned that fragile conditions in conflict-affected areas pose persistent risks.
Kaseya stressed the need to address root causes even where numbers are falling, stating that without reliable water supplies the outbreak cannot be fully controlled.