The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday highlighted the urgent need for increased production of cholera vaccines, pointing to a "critical shortage" globally. The WHO reported that as of July 28, 307,433 cases of cholera and 2,326 deaths have been recorded across 26 countries.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern on X (formerly Twitter), noting that the demand for cholera vaccines is far outstripping supply. Since January 2023, 18 countries have requested 105 million doses, but only 55 million doses have been produced.

The WHO's recent update revealed that between January and May 2024, the stockpile of oral cholera vaccines was completely depleted. Tedros called for more investment in vaccine production and urged countries to increase spending on water, sanitation, and emergency preparedness to prevent further cholera outbreaks.

The WHO identified the eastern Mediterranean region, Africa, and Southeast Asia as the areas with the highest number of cases. The organization considers the global risk from cholera to be "very high" due to the escalating number of cases and the vaccine shortage.

Cholera, which leads to severe diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle cramps, typically results from consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium. Despite decades of progress in controlling cholera, the disease has been on the rise again since 2021, even in countries that had not experienced outbreaks in years. The WHO cautioned that the current figures might be understated due to potential reporting delays.