Global Cholera Surge Persists into March 2026 As Vaccine Availability Rebounds

Cholera outbreaks continue to impact multiple regions, according to the latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Despite some fluctuations in global cases, cholera remains a significant public health concern in early March 2026.

According to the have been over 25,000 reported cholera cases worldwide this year, including 282 related deaths.

For the entirety of 2025, the WHO reported a cumulative total of 614,828 cholera cases and 7,598 deaths across 33 countries in five regions, with the Eastern Mediterranean and African regions experiencing the heaviest burden.

For most other travelers, vaccination is not routinely advised.

The WHO emphasizes that cholera is both preventable and treatable with prompt rehydration.

The WHO prequalifies several oral cholera vaccines (OCVs), including Dukoral®, Shanchol™, and Euvichol®, as well as variants such as Euvichol-Plus® and Euvichol-S®.

These OCVs generally require two doses to provide full protection and are utilized in both travel settings and mass vaccination campaigns through the Global OCV Stockpile.

In early 2026, preventive vaccination programs resumed with an initial allocation of 20 million doses, including deliveries to high-burden countries like Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Bangladesh.

The WHO and ECDC say travelers planning to visit affected areas should consult travel health clinics for personalized risk assessments and potential vaccination.