At least 63 people have died in a cholera outbreak in eastern Chad’s Ouaddai province since mid-July, the Health Ministry said Monday. Since the first case on July 13, authorities have logged 938 suspected infections; laboratory analysis of 52 samples confirmed 39 cases, said Dr. Abdel-Mahmoud Chene, Ouaddai’s public health and prevention delegate, at a meeting chaired by Public Health Minister Abdelmadjid Abderahim. The update was published on the ministry’s Facebook page.
Cholera, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and typically spread through contaminated water, can lead to rapid dehydration and death without prompt treatment, which centers on aggressive rehydration and, when indicated, antibiotics.
UNICEF warned in late July that around 80,000 children across West and Central Africa face high cholera risk as rains intensify. Young children, especially those under five, are particularly vulnerable due to limited access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Current regional outbreaks are also affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Sudan, and Togo.