Angola is working on a severe cholera outbreak that has spread to 16 of its 21 states, and as of March 23, 2025, it has infected 8,543 people and claimed 329 lives.
The crisis is intensifying, with cases rising particularly in the capitals, Luanda and Bengo, where 4,143 and 2,485 cases have been reported, respectively.
Health officials warn that one-third of deaths occurring in the community is spreading at an astonishing rate before patients reach medical care.
Demographic data show that people under the age of 20 are most affected, with the 6-14-year-old group accounting for 23.1% of cases.
More than half of the infected (55.3%) are males. The weekly cases surged to over 1,000 in early February before stabilizing at around 800, but the latest figures show a resurgence, with nearly 1,200 cases recorded in the past week.
In response, the Angola Ministry of Health, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, deployed a rapid response team, strengthened case detection and launched a community awareness campaign.
The January mass vaccination drive successfully vaccinated 900,000 people, achieving a coverage rate of 99.5%, with an additional 700,000 doses arriving in mid-March for the second campaign.
Despite these efforts, authorities are concerned about further communication due to the ongoing rainy season and cross-border movements with neighboring countries fighting the outbreak of cholera.
The WHO classified the risk of further spreading as “very high.”
When Angola competes with time to contain outbreaks, health officials are urging communities to stay vigilant and seek medical attention with the first sign of symptoms.
