Angola has recorded more than 20,000 cholera cases since the beginning of the year, with over 600 people losing their lives to the disease, the country’s health ministry announced on Tuesday.
Despite its vast oil reserves, the southern African nation continues to grapple with widespread poverty and inadequate sanitation infrastructure — key factors contributing to the outbreak.
“Since the beginning of the outbreak, a cumulative total of 20,050 cases were reported,” the ministry stated in its daily update, confirming 612 deaths. In the previous 24 hours alone, 233 new infections and three additional fatalities were recorded.
Luanda province, which includes the capital city, has been the hardest-hit area, accounting for around one-third of all reported cases. The ages of those affected range from as young as two years old to as old as 100, according to the ministry.
Cholera is a serious intestinal illness caused by ingesting contaminated food or water. Symptoms include severe diarrhoea, vomiting, and muscle cramps. If untreated, it can result in death within hours, though prompt care using oral rehydration solutions and antibiotics is highly effective.
Angola has a long history of recurring cholera outbreaks, particularly during the rainy season, as noted by the World Health Organisation. This year’s outbreak began in January and has since spread rapidly across 21 of the country’s provinces.
